Beneath The Willow Tree
The willow tree's branches swayed as Samantha looked up from the bottom of the trunk. She watched her dragon, Duke climb the little twigs and sticks, chasing ladybugs and glumbumbles. She had her legs crossed, it wasn't as easy as it used to be to sit like this.
A little green notebook lay open on the grass to a page where she had been writing. She had her favorite quill in her hand and a pot of her favorite Scribblus ink. Her husband had surprised her with an entire jar of it a few days prior. Samantha couldn't recall ever telling him it was her favorite, but at this point in her very stressful life, there were many things she didn't recall.
Samantha had become quite fond of writing beneath this particular tree. It was exponentially therapeutic. It reminded her of being a young girl and just letting the wind whip her hair while the words flew from her pen. The smell of the small pond nearby and the ink, truly was an intoxicating aroma.
She had missed writing for herself, not just as something anyone had asked of her. It was finally her's again. She required no one's opinion or commentary, it was her pleasure alone. She could share it with the world if she desired, but there was little to no pressure.
There was the occasional article in the Prophet, and she was in the midst of writing another book. However, this was only at her discretion. Her latest published work had been a rebuttal to a scandalous book written about the members of Dumbledore's army. Samantha had found the book ridiculously inept. Considering the author had written it as revenge for being sacked from her job at the Daily Prophet, Samantha found it to be quite hilarious.
Her current work was much less enticing or exciting, it was a simple book, about no one she personally knew and she doubted she would ever really publish it. Just a fictional little story that she considered reading to her children when they were old enough.
Crack!
Splash!
The sound was entirely foreign to Samantha as she looked up to see what had caused the commotion. A man wearing a plum suit was standing in the shallow water, a briefcase in his hand. He looked rather perturbed as walked out, but seemed to take a deep notice of the pond slime upon his boot.
He didn't notice Samantha until she called to him.
"Excuse me sir, but do you mean to be trespassing?" Samantha asked kindly before gripping the tree behind her and pulling herself up. Another task that had been made quite difficult in her current condition.
"Oh no." His eyes greeted her. He was a taller man, with darker skin and hair. "I believe I Apparated a bit too far. Is this the Longbottom residence?"
Samantha nodded before cautiously reaching into her pocket for her wand. "It is."
"You must be Mrs. Longbottom?" The man asked looking her over and she suddenly wished she was more put together.
"Only to my husband." She nodded back, wiping the ink off on her her dark blue dungarees. Her dragon, Duke flew down and landed on her shoulder. He wasn't growling as he would normally to people he found to be threats. "To everyone else I prefer Professor Fyre."
"Ah, I apologize." He observed before reaching out his hand. "I'm Jasper Crane."
"Oh, the Herbologist?" She shook his hand back and felt a kick in her abdomen. Her fears began to fall away as she released her wand.
"I've heard your surname name before I think." He said and she could tell the cogs were turning in his mind. "You aren't a Herbologist as well are you?"
Samantha laughed deciding not to explain where he knew her from, "Oh no, Neville's the genius with plants. I'm ruddy with them. Honestly, he's been trying for decades to help me. I can barely keep house plants alive."
"I see." He nodded and looked around.
"Nev mentioned you would be stopping by for the party tomorrow." Samantha asked, wondering why this man would be here a full day before he was expected. He had been in correspondence with her husband for nearly a year, they were both studying a similar subspecies of pond algae.
"Is he here? I know I'm a day early for the party." Mr. Crane asked crossing his arms. "My travels brought me to the area and I am horrible with meeting new people."
She nodded and crossed her arms. "Yeah, he's inside the house, starting on his lesson plans for the upcoming year."
"So you are also a Professor? I assume you also teach at Hogwarts." He surmised as they began walking towards the house.
"Yes, Transfiguration. Only the first, second and third years right now." Samantha admitted with a light shrug, "I hope when my children are older I can pick up all of the classes."
"So how far along are you?" He asked looking her over.
"Eight months, we're hoping I pop sooner rather than later though." Samantha laughed walking with her hands on her back. "Although, like everything in my life, I assume it'll take a little longer than everyone else."
"I hope it has been a pleasant experience."
"I wouldn't call it pleasant, but I will say it isn't as tiresome as my first pregnancy." Samantha admitted looking at her distended abdomen. "We've found new herbs to remedy my situation."
"Boy or girl?" He asked.
"Not a clue yet, but his Gran is betting on this one being a boy, there hadn't been a Longbottom girl in centuries." Samantha chuckled as they made their way up the stairs to the porch of the family home.
"What do you say?" He asked with a swing of his arm.
Samantha laughed heartily as she gripped the bannister, "Well, if our first daughter proved anything, we can't always trust his Gran."
Jasper laughed with a hearty tilt of his head, "I see."
"Neville has truly enjoyed your letters. He is quite a fan." Samantha tried wracking her brain, "Something about your work with fluxweed and gillyweed. Supposedly it is incomparable work."
"He is too flattering." Mr Crane said as Samantha made her way to the door.
Samantha looked inside the screen of the front door to see her husband carrying their daughter on his shoulders through the foyer. Her bouncy curls boisterously bouncing as he took big steps making her giggle.
"Nev! Jasper Crane is here to see you." Samantha called in, almost heartbroken to stop the hearty giggles. "I see the lesson planning is going well."
"Oh definitely! Except Minnie insisted on a game of course." Neville immediately stopped his playing, putting his little daughter on the floor. He fixed his hair before taking his daughter's hand. "Good to finally meet you Mr. Crane."
"A true honor to meet you in person." Mr. Crane extended a hand.
"I see you have met my Sam." Neville smirked a little at Samantha.
"He gave me a real fright while I was writing." Samantha laughed before leaning back against the wall of the house.
"I certainly did." He boisterously laughed. "I do hope it hasn't ruined your impression of me.
"Not at all." Samantha answered, before noticing little Minnie was looking rather sleepy. Her eyes were drooping.
"And this is our Minnie." Neville introduced Minnie. She was not exactly fit for company either, wearing little mushroom covered shorts and a white tee shirt covered in stains from her lunch.
"Hello Minnie." Jasper said bending over to speak to her.
Minnie's curly pigtails bounced atop her head as she waved. She didn't smile, just cautiously examined the man with her expansively large brown eyes.
"And how old are you?" Mr Crane asked.
Minnie didn't answer, just looked up at her mum.
"She's going to be two tomorrow, aren't you Min?" Neville asked little Minnie.
Minnie nodded and put her hand into her mouth.
"Well, it's about time for Minnie to get her afternoon nap." Samantha said before taking Minnie's hand. "I'll put her down if you and Mr. Crane want to go out to the greenhouses."
"Do you need me to carry her up the stairs?" Neville asked and Samantha knew it was because he didn't want her over exerting herself.
"No, Minnie likes the flight." Samantha giggled.
"Alright then." Neville smiled before reaching and giving Minnie a little kiss on the cheek.
Samantha took her daughter inside before charming her daughter to float up the stairs to her bedroom. Minnie giggled in her highest pitch as Duke the dragon flew beside her.
"I swear, I know your wife from somewhere." Jasper insisted and Samantha chuckled under her breath as she climbed the stairs after her daughter.
"Probably, she's quite famous." Neville's voice nonchalantly mentioned.
Samantha continued her way up to Minnie's nursery. It was possibly the most impractical room in the house, but only by default, as the rest of the house was practically pristine and streamlined. It had a few stuffed toys strewn upon the floor and it made little sense to make the bed. The walls were a soft yellow with tiny purple butterflies lining the ceiling. The butterflies could fly independently and Minnie stared at them constantly.
They only stayed at the Longbottom property over the summer months. To visit his Gran. His Gran was out for the afternoon, seeing an old friend and buying a few things for the birthday party they were throwing for Minnie and Neville the next day. Their birthdays were days a part and it made Samantha joyful to watch her two favorite humans be celebrated.
Minnie lay in her bed, Duke snuggled by her head. Minnie was used to sleeping next to a dragon, almost as if he was just another stuffed animal.
Duke's truest companion was of course Samantha, but he had become very protective over Minnie. He laid with her as she slept almost ritualistically. Never sleeping, but keeping his eyes watchful.
"Take care of my Minerva will you?"
Duke wasted no time putting his head on Minnie's cheek.
Minnie yawned as her eyes drooped. She was an easy child with very few issues. She of course had endured her colic and her insufferable diaper or two, like every baby, but she was never difficult. It was a deep relief after the suffering Samantha had endured during her pregnancy with Minnie.
The child she currently carried kicked against her again. Samantha had a nagging feeling that the easy pregnancy could be a precarious sign. Her next child was sure to be a firecracker, something she knew was from the Fyre side of the family.
Minnie had said a few words so far in life, but she seemed content to remain quiet. Samantha knew she probably took after her father in that regard.
"I'm sure you will have plenty to say someday." Samantha insisted after kissing her forehead. Her big brown eyes darting to each of the butterflies on the border.