Antiseptic Hallways (Mandi)

[Professor Neville Longbottom]

Neville sat in the lounge as she waited for the healer to come and get him. It was becoming a ritual now, coming to see his parents. Every Sunday morning, he made sure to pull his cloak on and make the long trek to St. Mungo's Hospital. Once there, he would deliver the the muffins, cookies, or whatever baked goods his grandmother had prepared for his family. He would normally nibble on the sweets as he tried to communicate with his parents, who normally stared off into nothing. Every once in a while, his mother would try to communicate her love by passing her son a used bubblegum wrapper, and as always, Neville treasured the piece of trash as if it where spun gold.

The hospital was overflowing with patrons these days since the attack on Diagon Alley. With barely enough spaces, witches and wizards with minor injuries were actually being treated out in the hallways. Pulled from his thoughts, a young healer came out of the ward where his parents were being kept. The healer briefly explained to Neville it might be a while before he could see his parents because of some travesty that occurred. At her suggestion, Neville made his way to the top floor to visit the coffee shop. He had spent too many hours at that coffee shop....

Walking down the hallway, Neville looked to his left and to his right to see some of the patients that were forced to wait for treatment out in the hallway. Suddenly, an older witch grabbed Neville's hand with a grip like iron. " Are you Alice Longbottom's boy?" The woman looked Neville over and over as if searching for the answer to the question she just asked. Neville could do nothing but stutter a " Yes."

[livinghope1986]

Mandi entered St. Mungo's from the street. She exhaled deeply when she saw the chaos within. The small reception area seemed to be packed full with injured witches and wizards. Mandi knew it had to do with the Diagon Alley attacks, but she didn't realize just how many had been injured. She bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out when someone stepped on her toe. She needed to get out of this mess. Mandi side stepped a man with a bleeding head. Quickly weaving in and out of the crowd, Mandi sighed when she reached the staircase.

'Spell Damage is on the fourth floor,' Mandi reminded herself as she began to climb the stairs. She sighed again as she thought about why she was there. Her aunt had been in Diagon Alley during the attacks and hadn't been fortunate enough to not get hurt. She was a bit out of it right now from the curse they had used on her. Mandi hadn't been told what was used, but didn't feel like she needed to know.

Reaching the fourth floor Mandi's eyes opened wide, the place was completely packed. Witches and wizards were standing in the hallways as healers visited them one by one. Mandi moved down the corridors until she found room 423. She entered the room and saw her aunt. She bit back the cry when she saw her aunt's face. Whatever curse they had used had caused a long gash in her face. It was freshly healed, but the gash was still visible as was the bruise that formed around it. Mandi watched as her aunt peacefully slept. There was no way she was going to wake her. She sighed, 'maybe I'll go get some coffee.'

Mandi exited the room and went back down the crowded hallways to the stairs. Climbing up another floor, Mandi stepped into the hallway. They were crowded as well as she began a slow walk down them. She recognized the boy in front of her and was about to say something when a woman grabbed his hand and asked him a question, "Are you Alice Longbottom's boy?" the woman asked. Mandi couldn't see the boys face, but assumed he was startled. She decided to do something. "Hello, Neville! Excuse me ma'am, I need to talk with him," Mandi said as she rushed to his side. She didn't know if the woman would let go of him, but was dearly hoping she would. Mandi smiled at the woman in a reassuring way to let her know that it was OK if she just let go.

[Professor Neville Longbottom]

Being led away gently by Mandi, he patted the ladie's hand and nodded his head. Breathing a sigh of relief, Neville smiled gratefully at Mandi. "Thank you very much for rescuing me. Not that I dislike the woman, but I get nervous when people only remember me for my parent's sacrifice. Oh, by the way, I'm Neville Longbottom. I don't believe we've met properly." Letting a light blush cross his face, he tried not to studder over his words. Girls always made him a bit nervous. Even Hermione Granger, who he considered a good friend, made him stammer and splutter like he didn't have a thought in his head.

" So, why are you here? Was some of your family in the attack? I heard many of the Hogwart's students were actually transported to the school. It really surprised me that the Death Eaters attacked like that. My Gran always told me they tended to be more covert, you know. Striking when you least expected it, but in a small way. Normally just a family being killed or a particular person being attacked. Not en mass like this."

Neville cringed as he walked by another stretcher. The young woman on the stretcher stared at the ceiling, unblinking. Wondering what was wrong with her, he began to step forward but was pushed back without a touch from a mediwizard that had just stepped up to the gurney. The mediwizard shook his head in disappointment and raised the white sheet that lay on the woman over her head. Trying to avert Mandi's gaze, he directed her up the stairs that led to the coffee shop that was on the top floor.

[livinghope1986]

Mandi smiled at Neville. "Oh, sorry. Mandi Aspden, I'm 5th year Gryffindor," she said as they continued to walk down the hallway. She knew Neville because she had always looked up to those that were older than she was. She had made it her goal to know the names of all the people in Gryffindor that were in 6th and 7th year. It helped bring about friendlier conversations when you ran into the people. That and she was a social butterfly that couldn't help but talk to everyone she could. She just felt she learned more from those older than her and made sure that she knew everyone by name enough to dispense with introductions.

"My aunt was injured in the attack. I was going to go see her, but she's sleeping so peacefully and I just don't want to wake her up," Mandi said with a half smile as she remembered the way her aunt was sleeping. Mandi listened to what Neville was saying and she felt her blood go cold. She had been at Diagon Alley during the attacks. It was something she wished she hadn't experienced. "I can't believe they did what they did. It makes me wish I had already graduated from Hogwarts. I would be fighting against them right now if I could. Instead it's my father," Mandi said with a sigh.

Mandi's eyes fell on a woman. She wasn't moving and there was an expression in her open eyes that Mandi couldn't understand. Neville seemed to have noticed the woman too and as he walked forward a mediwizard seemed to have pushed him back. Mandi watched horror stricken as the mediwizard placed a sheet over the woman. Though Neville's valiant attempt at shielding Mandi from the sight failed, she couldn't help but thank him mentally. A tear slid down her cheek as Neville directed her to the stairs leading to the 5th floor. "How can people be so heartless? All around us is the pain and destruction they caused and we can't stop it," Mandi sighed as she turned to look at Neville.

[Professor Neville Longbottom]

" I'm sorry to hear about your Aunt. The news is getting out though. Apparently Amelia Bones was killed in the attack. Susan will be heartbroken. She is such a sweet girl." Neville made his way up the steep stairs. " It's so horrible. All this life wasted because a group of people think they are right, but, I guess, that is how all wars are started." Neville sighed.

Arriving at the door that allowed visitor's into the cafe, Neville pushed the door open for Mandi. " I think I saw Cass Blackfire earlier. She seemed really distraught, but can you blame the poor girl? She has been through so much this year with all of her family drama. I saw a couple of healers shuttle her off somewhere. She had a pretty bad limp."

Escorting Mandi to a table, he removed the chair to allow her to sit. " What kind of coffee do you like?" Neville pulled out his wallet and began to rummage around in his pocket for some money. After a few moments of fumbling, he pulled his hand out and several knuts and sickles dropped to the floor from his pocket. Scrambling to the floor, Neville bent over to pick up the change. " I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make such a clatter." Neville said as he saw several witches and wizards turn toward them, many of them with wet eyes.

[livinghope1986]

Mandi sighed as Neville talked about Ameila Bones. She hadn't heard the news yet and it made her sad. So many lives had been rattled by the event and she didn't think the wizarding world would ever fully return to the way things were before the attacks. "Thanks," Mandi said as Neville held the door opened for her. She was grateful that she wasn't alone at the moment. She didn't think she'd see her father for a while, with him being an Auror and out looking for Death Eaters.

"I'd like a cup of black coffee. I'm not much for anything to tell you the truth, but something hot would probably be good," Mandi said as she watched Neville fish into his pockets. She was a bit startled when change fell from his pockets. She smiled at him when he bent to pick them up. She didn't mind the fact that he had dropped the change, it brought a bit of reality to the whole situation which she dearly needed. She wished it was a dream, but some things could never end like that. Mandi sighed deeply as she thought about her aunt. The sounds and sights of the attacks returned to her mind and she wiped away the tear that rolled down her cheek. "So much pain and devastation," she sighed as she played with the ring on her finger. She looked up at Neville to see if he had gotten the coffee yet.

[Professor Neville Longbottom]

After rescuing all his money, Neville walked over and retrieved the coffee. After thinking for a few moments, Neville also purchased two slices of cheesecake. Returning with the food, he finally took his seat across from Mandi. " I hope you like cheesecake. I've always been rather partial to it with coffee." He smiled a large grin, hoping to lift the girl's spirit. When he noticed that she was still a bit upset, he caught her gaze. " I know it's hard, but we just have to hope for the best. The ministry is working hard to keep us safe, and Harry..." Neville trailed off. He honestly did not know what Harry was doing. He hadn't heard from him in a while, but had heard from someone that he had been in the attack on Diagon Alley.

" Well, let's not talk about that now," He gave the girl a reassuring look. " Your in your fifth year, right? Are you looking forward to your O.W.L.S.? I remember my fifth year. I was a nervous wreck for about a month before the exams." Neville's thoughts couldn't help but shift to the fifth years that may not be returning to Hogwarts this year because of all the attacks.

[livinghope1986]

Mandi smiled as Neville tried to console her and lift her spirits. She normally wasn't like this, but it had been hard after the attacks. Mandi had always believed that everyone had good in them, but now her optimism was failing her and she was beginning to see evil more than good. It was rather hard for her, considering her love for helping people. Mandi took a drink of her coffee and took a bite of cheesecake. It was good and she found herself smiling at the sweet taste. She was glad she had run into Neville. She didn't know what she would be doing if she had ended up here by herself.

"I'm a little worried about O.W.L.s. Though not too much. I have been rereading all of my other school books and I feel I'll do well in some of the subjects. I'm more worried about Potions and History of Magic. I'm not bad at Potions, but Professor Snape makes me so uncomfortable that most of the time I screw up the potion. History of Magic, I just don't care about. It's not a subject that I think I truly need for the future, but I could be wrong. I'll be fine if I fail that one. I don't care enough about it to really study it. Are the written exams really difficult? I've heard that they are, but I've been really hoping that people were just lying to me. I'm not much for exams. I'm better with oral exams as apposed to written exams," Mandi said as she babbled on. She realized that she was talking quickly and abruptly stopped. "Sorry, I talk too much." Mandi looked down at her coffee and quickly took a drink. She hated it when she let herself go on and on, especially when it probably wasn't that interesting.

[Professor Neville Longbottom]

Neville laughed a little as Mandi cut herself off. " No, you don't. Trust me, I'm friends with Luna Lovegood and Hermione Granger and they could just go on forever sometimes. You would think they would both be really quiet, but they are not. Oh, and I'm pretty sure you don't have anything to worry about exams. I mean, if you fail all your OWLS, they wouldn't kick you out." Neville took a sip of his coffee. " Well, I don't think they would kick you out. What would they do, send you to muggle school or something? Or maybe repeat the year? I hear that is what they make you do at muggle school if you don't pass. Anyways, I didn't find the written exams too terribly difficult, but they are a challenge. If you need any help in Herbology, let me know."

Realizing this line of conversation may be bothering the girl, he changed the subject. " So, you have a fear of Snape? I can't say that you are the only one. Most people in our house either loathe or down right despise him. In fact, I was so horrified of him in my third year, that I actually had a boggart turn into him during DADA." Neville smiled. Even thought it wasn't one of his better moments, that year with Lupin was one of his better memories. " Of course, most Gryffindors drop Potions by their six year. I did. Snape makes it nearly unbearable for us to stay in there."

[livinghope1986]

Mandi smiled as Neville talked out O.W.L.s. She got a bit worried when he talked about failing them. She didn't want to fail them, though she did see his point. There wasn't much they could do. They wouldn't really kick her out if she failed them would they? Mandi shook her head of the disturbing thoughts. She didn't want to think about the O.W.L.s right now. She was worried over them as it was, now thinking that she was going to fail all them wasn't very comforting, in fact it made her quite worried. Neville offered to help her in Herbology. "I probably would need help in Herbology. I need to get at least an Exceeds Expectations in it and I'm not that good in it," Mandi sighed. She needed an Exceeds Expectations in four of her classes and then she needed an Outstanding in her Potions class.

"He's so mean to the other houses. I've done nothing whatsoever to him and yet he still yells at me. My potions hardly ever turn out the way they're supposed to. The problem is that I need in Outstanding in Potions. I want to become an Auror like my father. I need to do really good on my Potions O.W.L. It's the only way I'll be able to go on with my training," Mandi sighed. She knew it would be a long hard road to becoming an Auror, but she wanted nothing more than to become an Auror so she could fight the Dark Arts. She wanted to get rid of those who were evil and hurt others. "It will be hard training as an Auror, but I really feel like it's where I'm called to be. It's something that I've always wanted to do ever since I was 5 years old and my father told me about it. I don't know if that even makes sense," Mandi sighed as she took a drink of her coffee. She thought she sounded somewhat daft and she didn't want Neville to think she was. She looked up at Neville to see what his reaction was to her choice in jobs.