Prologue

Prologue

Friday, May 10th

Josie Longbottom watched as her daughter climbed into bed, clutching a tattered teddy bear. She bent down to place a kiss on her daughter Alice's forehead, smoothing back the unruly bangs that kept obscuring her dainty face.

"Mummy, when will Daddy be home?"

"I'm not sure, Precious," she replied, sitting on the corner of Alice's bed. "You must remember, he is away doing important work."

"Saving the rainforest," the child said sagely.

"Yes, Love, saving the rainforest. He'll be home before you realize it."

"But, Mummy, I miss him so."

"I know you do. I miss him too. You know what? I bet he misses us just as much." She pulled her daughter into a hug. "I've got an idea; why don't you draw him a picture, something that shows what we are doing while waiting for him to return, and I will post it to him. That way, when he misses us he will have a picture of us."

"Oh, Mummy, that is brilliant!"

~~~oOo~~~oOo~~~oOo~~~

Wednesday, May 22nd

Josie was in the middle of her first cup of morning coffee, flipping through the channels on the television when an owl arrived. No matter how often Neville said that owl post was normal, she just couldn't get into it; cell phones and computers were vastly more practical for instant communication. However, there were times when magical means were far superior to the non-magical, or rather Muggle, means.

Even after eight years of marriage, and a magical child, Josie had to sometimes pinch herself. The whole concept was just unreal. Yet, it was an integral part of her husband and daughter's life. Sometimes she felt like a stranger in a strange land, for not only was she one of the few non-magical people in her circle of friends, she was also the only American. Still, no matter how advanced the magical community might be in some situations, there were just some things she refused to live without – electricity, a telephone, and television being the primary items, though a good old fashioned root beer float often preempted all three.

The owl fluttered its dark brown wings and thrust forward a leg, piercing her with what Josie assumed was a contemptuous look.

"Yes, yes," she muttered, reaching towards the extending leg, "I know you want me to get that thing off you."

"I find any droppings," she threatened, fumbling to get the letter off its leg, "and I don't care how useful you are, you'll be supper."

The owl ruffled it fathers, narrowly missing her hand with its beak.

"Hey now, no cause for that," Josie exclaimed. "I suppose you want a treat before you leave too." She eyed the bird warily, tossing it a piece of toast from the counter. "Well, all I have is toast at the moment, so you'll have to be happy with it." The owl caught the toast, and ruffled its feathers one last time before hopping out the window.

She picked up her coffee mug and moved from the counter to the kitchen table, rubbing the parchment between her fingers as she went. She wondered who would be sending her an owl post. Neville, though he sometimes had difficultly with technology, used the cell phone she bought him more and more. The reception was spotty at times, especially considering he was half a world away, but it enabled them to hear each other's voices. So the letter couldn't possibly be from him.

Neville's family had practically disowned him when they married in America; even the birth of Alice couldn't shake them from the contempt they seemed to hold Josie in, so it was doubtful they would be writing to her. Apparently the pure-bred lot couldn't stomach the fact that she was a Muggle; the fact that she was an American to boot only drove the wedge in deeper.

Josie took a long drink of coffee, fingering the letter thoughtfully. Various scenarios filled her head, but she dismissed them all. Alice was too young for a Hogwarts letter, she hadn't started the advertisement for a wizarding elementary school for those children whose parents couldn't afford private tutors -- though wizarding families were loath to hire a Muggle, even if she was married to a "war hero," -- and all of the friends she and Neville shared would Floo over instead of sending an owl.

With a sigh, she opened it, knowing that she'd drive herself mad with possibilities if she didn't.

Josie never felt the scalding coffee splashing against her skin as the mug dropped to the ground and shattered; never felt the shards of glass piercing her palm as she collapsed on the ground in a heap of shock.

Ethan Russo

Machinguenza Research Corporation

~~~oOo~~~oOo~~~oOo~~~

Thursday, May 30th

It rained the day of Neville's funeral, dark rolling clouds and sweeping wind that seemed to be nature's response to Josie's anguished soul. Beside her, little Alice clutched at her hand, as if she were afraid that Josie, too, might disappear.

Though Josie hadn't told her what had happened, Alice knew. In the week that followed, Alice hadn't said a word; however, she refused to let Josie out of her sight, even at night. Alice would wrap her thin, trembling body around Josie and refused to go to sleep unless Josie promised to stay. It was easier to agree than to argue, especially since Josie wasn't all that keen to let Alice out of her sight.

The last week had gone in a blur of tears. There were so many arrangements that needed to be done, people to contact, and of course, Neville's body to be transported.

Josie hadn't really believed him dead until she saw his lifeless corpse. It was an irrational hope that perhaps they had made a mistake, one she clung to even when she got the voice mail every time she dialed his cell phone. That hope was quashed when his body arrived, ready for the memorial ceremony.

Neville's grandmother had wanted a traditional wizarding pyre, and Josie agreed, wanting to make peace with the woman who seemed such a shadow of her former self. Much to Josie's surprise, the ceremony seemed to be like any other memorial service, filled with loving friends and family to commemorate Neville.

Josie was so lost among the sea of faces paying respect to Neville that they all seemed to just blur together. Had it not been for the Weasleys and Hermione Granger, Josie would have gone mad. Molly Weasley, being a practical woman, held most condolence wishers at bay, knowing Josie was in no shape to deal with their sympathetic kindness.

Josie's eyes misted as she watched her husband's dear friend make his way through the throng of people. Alice burrowed herself into Josie's side, her tear-stained face pressing against her breast. She ran a soothing hand down her daughter's hair, wishing she could do more to ease Alice's aching heart.

Ron stood up before the crowd, pushing his long shaggy red hair behind an ear as he surveyed the faces before him. His soft voice was captivating as he started the eulogy.

"I think Neville would be surprised if he saw so many people gathered here to mourn him. He was, after all, a quiet man. He liked the solitude of his greenhouse. He liked to be one with nature, helping various plants take that step from seedling to glorious green. It wouldn't occur to him that he was so popular; that he would, and will, be missed so much. Yet, the very fact that so many have gathered to celebrate his life says so much more about him, and his kindness, more than mere words can describe.

So I will say goodbye my friend. The world has lost a vital part of itself with your passing. We will hold you in our hearts and our memories."

~~~oOo~~~oOo~~~oOo~~~

A/N:

Litigation Disclaimer

None of the characters are mine, and neither are some portions of the plot, which were influenced by the movie The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. I will brush them off and put them away nicely when I am done playing with them.

Peruvian Vipertooth Dragon per Harry Potter Lexicon.

The Eulogy is pieces of different speeches given to love ones lost this last year.

Calendar dates are for the year 2013, if anyone is interested.

Machiguenza: An Ethnobotanical Study of Eastern Peru

Essentially, I have warped the very real Dr. Ethan Russo, a premiere neurological researcher studying various botanical species in Eastern Peru, near the Amazon Basin, to serve my purposes.

http://manu.montana.com/