17th of November 2019: Neville

14. 17th of November 2019: Neville

He hadn't expected Neville Longbottom to have a taste for modern art. The painting he was forced to use was a study in vivid red, green and blue, and it depicted what might or might not be a grinning face, its only redeeming feature being that it didn't move.

Longbottom was standing with his back against him, mumbling something to a plant with long tentacles. The plant was green, mingled with glittering flecks of silver that threw reflexes around the room. Severus couldn't identify it, but that wasn't all that strange, since the boy and Hagrid had more in common than one might think at first glance.

"Professor Longbottom," Severus said, by way of declaring his arrival.

Longbottom flinched at the sound of his voice, but put down the watering pot he was holding, and then he walked over to the seat that he had obviously placed opposite the painting earlier. He looked calm, which was annoying.

"Headmaster Snape," said Neville and smiled.

The smile was a surprise. The boy had previously been either frightened or hostile toward him, but now he seemed relaxed enough.

"You startled me," he added.

"Pray excuse me. I did not intend to." Severus made a pause while watching a tentacle from the silver-glittering plant Longbottom had been petting earlier slither over the floor. "Have you come to a decision?"

Longbottom nodded.

The tentacle had reached Longbottom now, and he leant down and let it wind itself around his finger before straightening up again, taking it with him.

"I'm interested. Very much so."

Not unexpected, but still a problem. He needed Longbottom to step down by his own wish. So how to make him bow out. What arguments to use?

"Very good." Severus looked around in the painting and managed to find a blue blob to sit on. He sat down carefully, since it might be too soft and give away underneath him.

It was harder than marble and uncomfortable as Hades. "You are aware what the position entails?"

Neville gave him one of those open, honest looks he seemed to excel at, and that annoyed Severus no end. "I think so, but why don't you give me the details anyway?"

Good. Longbottom trusted him. It would make things easier.

"One of Hogwarts headmasters' and headmistresses' main focuses are to ensure that the school remains independent of the Ministry of Magic."

Longbottom's face shifted from the affable expression that went so well with his face and personality to the hard, unyielding one Severus had come to know so well during that last year. Then it used to make him angry. Now it only induced a vague feeling of regret.

"However, the Board of Governors are not independent of the Ministry. Which means that the Head of Hogwarts needs to keep them happy, and at the same time, on a very tight leash."

He gave Severus a small nod. "I understand."

It was a shame. Longbottom would have made a good Headmaster. Maybe even a great one.

"Then, of course, you will be responsible for the the teachers and the quality of the education. Some subjects are regulated and must be taught: Charms, Transfiguration, Potions and Herbology being four of them. Others like Muggle Studies and Divination are not, and the Headmaster or Headmistress has the capacity to remove those subjects altogether and bring in other subjects instead."

Longbottom nodded and made a small grimace. "Those things alone would take up a lot of my time," he said.

And here it was. Gryffindors were easy that way, always willing to hand you an opportunity.

"Yes. You would have to give up your work in Greenhouse 12, of course." He made sure the comment sounded like an absent-minded sidenote.

Longbottom's eyes widened, and his mouth moved without a sound coming out at first. Then he cleared his throat, managing to speak.

"But Pomona helped me—"

"To get in contact with Doctor Fern Keyes. Yes. Keyes was very impressed with your experiments on spores, I understand."

Longbottom's mouth was, again, working without a sound coming from it.

"Unless I was misinformed?" Severus leaned forward, trying to convey an interest for the subject that he didn't feel.

Longbottom looked at him and then at the tentacle that had curled itself around his arm. While they watched it, the tentacle worked its way to Longbottom's cheek, where it seemed to make a tentative try to figure out what Longbottom looked like.

"But surely Dumbledore did research?" asked Longbottom.

"Yes. But he didn't need much sleep. And he never had a family." He made a deliberate pause for effect as Longbottom frowned. "But you could always try, if you think you are up to the task."

Severus rose from the blue blob. His arse was aching.

"I take it I can tell the Board that you are interested in the position, and that you may start as soon as their decision is made?"

The tentacle chose that moment to cuddle up on Longbottom's shoulder, the way some absurd pet might have done. And he behaved just like the owner to said pet would have. He stroked it, and when he did, his face cleared.

"No, wait. I want to continue my research. I would be interested in the post as deputy Headmaster though, if that's an option open to me."

Severus kept his features bland.

"You are sure?" he asked. "It is not likely the offer will be made again. It is, more or less, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Longbottom smiled.

"So are my research and my kids. But I find it very flattering that Minerva suggested me. I didn't expect that."

Severus believed him. Longbottom was humble to a ridiculous extent.