Chapter Text
"Remind me why your shop has to be in a Muggle street of all places?" Neville huffed, hauling the pile of crates across the threshold and slamming the door behind himself.
A long stem of edera that had instantly grown through the hinges was crushed and he cringed hard as if he’d been hurt himself .
The young man apologized with a murmur, opening the door and gently nudging the plant back away from the opening and closing again more carefully.
"It's so Muggles can find it when they need it" Luna replied placidly, already casting a spell on the crates and moving them towards the back garden.
"I know, I know... I wasn't really asking" Neville sighed with a small smile and then grabbed the smaller crate off the other two “Wait,I brought you this one to guard the till, I know you're not always around"
Luna walked up to the counter where Neville set down the crate and tapped lightly on the wood, jumping back when a dull thud sounded against it. "Careful! He has a mean streak!" was the only warning before the crate vanished to reveal what looked for all intents and purposes to be a miniaturized version of the Whomping Willow in a beautiful deep brown ceramic pot.
Neville grabbed a spoon and waved it in front of the long leafy branches, which in turn came to life and immediately whipped the spoon out of his hand, chargingat him with two more. "It's a bonsai of Hogwarts' willow, met a colleague from Japan at a conference Pomona sent me to and he was so fascinated that we set up to experiment a bit. Managed to grow three of them, but Pomona didn't want to keep ours, says it's too dangerous for the students" he sighed, grumbling something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "The big one is fine, though" .
Luna grinned and reached out while the willow was busy with Neville, rubbing the bark lightly until the branches stopped and went limp “I’m sure he’ll like it here” she said quietly, making Neville huff a laugh. "Of course you found the right bark spot, hold it a moment" he smiled, moving the plant where it couldn't hurt anyone inadvertently.
"And then I brought you a few boxes of catnip, you told me you have strays coming around… they’ll love it" he grinned.
Luna followed Neville where he was setting up the crates right outside the backdoor in a free spot of the crowded garden and as he vanished the container what looked like a colorful mint bush appeared. Looking closer one could appreciate the tiny lilac flowers around the stems with their petals shaped like cat ears. "Come over, you can pet it" he said, an excited smile spreading on his face.
She crouched down and reached out to the leaves, which shuddered gently and stretched forward, starting to shake ever so slightly immediately after.
"It's purring!"
Luna chuckled at the unexpected sensation and ran her hand through the plant before pinching a leaf gently and rubbing to diffuse the scent. "These are perfect, Neville. Come inside, I'll make you a latte... Draco brought me a mix of spices I want you to try" she grinned.
Neville knew he shouldn't be as troubled as he was to hear Luna talk about Malfoy but he couldn't help his reaction, it was only out of politeness that he asked after him as they moved back to the counter "How is he? I heard Slughorn rejected his application for a Potion apprenticeship... Can't say I'm surprised with the fines hitting the Malfoys so hard" he shrugged. "But his NEWTs were great from what Pomona tells me".
Luna shook her head with a small frown "Hogwarts is missing out on a very knowledgeable teacher. He asked me to ask Hermione how to get into a Muggle university, he's studying their Science on his own now".
Neville went quiet for a few seconds, just watching his friend move confidently about her shop as she prepared an espresso for his latte.
Muggles sure knew something about coffee, he had to give them that.
Finally he shook his head "I suppose you know him better than I do.” It was his way to end that conversation, he wasn’t going to get in another shouting match about their post-war lives. One had been enough for everyone involved.
“Hannah is considering investing in the Leaky, you know? Tom would get us a good price for it if we promise to treat it well, he knows she loves the job" he smiled.
"The Leaky is a cornerstone, you'll see so many people come and go through it" Luna grinned, adjusting the coffee puck and then getting the coffee flowing "I'm sure Hannah will love welcoming all of them" she said softly, and if Neville heard a dig in her words maybe it was his conscience talking.
He sipped his coffee and hummed, leaning on the counter "We're all building new cornerstones these days, I suppose..." he reached for Luna's hand to squeeze across the counter "Did you end up asking your dad about the name?"
Luna stilled for a moment and then a smile spread on her lips "Elio. Mum would have liked it, I think I'll go with it". Her fingers touched the moon shaped locket at her neck and it briefly shimmered before shifting into a dark brass sun.
"Love it."