A trail of followers, hands in pockets resting round wooden wands, walked behind Neville as he made his forward into the Great Hall. His head was turned slightly up, his eyes following downward the bridge of his nose. His wand was casually in his hands, and a smile played across his lips. His brown eyes took in the dinners heaped upon the table and students seated at many of them. Most met his stare and nodded civilly, while others dropped their gazes.
Neville peered at the professors dining this eve and they acknowledged his presence with benign eyes and nods. His favorite, Madam Sprout, was absent. He walked by the Slytherin table and had a quick duel of eyes with Draco Malfoy, but the latter looked away quickly as his eyes took in the four lads trailing behind the Boy-who-lived.
They gave the pale-haired boy menacing looks. Neville turned his attentions back to his own table and walked there with a purpose. His glances had caught something that he did not like seeing. Something he had worked five hard years at keeping from happening. There seated at his glorious Gryffindor Table were a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw. His smile slid away, and as he made for them he missed a few of the teachers growing tense.
Cedric Diggory was leaning over the table, looking at a magazine while Cho Chang was seated next him. They were engaged in a quiet conversation with their fellow Quidditch player about the starting line up of Puddlemere United. An old comrade of theirs was due to start in the first string for once. They were happy and pleased his career was beginning to take-off, pun intended. Cedric cast to Cho a warm smile as he and his fellow laughed at the joke.
The smiles melted away as a throat was cleared. Three pairs of eyes looked up and their expressions shifted. Cedric to a frown along with Cho's. Their companion, and owner of the magazine, gave Neville a guarded look.
"Good morning everyone." Neville said brightly, despite the scowling figures arraying themselves behind him. Cedric ignored them along with his companion, but Cho felt her hand itching for her wand.
"Morning, Neville." Cedric said with a strain.
"Neville." Cho spoke as well, emotion leaving her voice.
Neville turned to his bunkmate and waited for the polite response. Manners is one thing his Gran had always told him to uphold; something he expected from anyone.
Before him, seated and dressed in raggedy robes and faded clothing, was Harry Potter. The young lad returned the gaze and nodded before closing the magazine and addressing his friends again. "I'll talk to you guys later, okay?"
They nodded and looked to Neville. "Good-day." Cho echoed the sentiment and the two walked away quickly, casting nervous glances back towards their friend.
The Boy-who-lived sighed audibly and gave Harry a disparaging look. "I think I'll be eating dinner here today. Ron, will you be a pal and dine with your sister in my stead? Tell her I promise to make up for it tomorrow." He cast Ron a pleasant smile.
The tall red-haired Weasley gave the two a sour look, before nodding and walking away briskly. The three remaining members of his entourage knew what was coming next, it happened every so often around the Potter boy. None could understand why their Captain put up with so many of Harry's infractions, but they knew better than to voice their thoughts.
Neville spoke to them all and one by one expertly sent them on their own, either to speak with a professor about a certain topic or to go and enjoy the company of another. Without any mutterings Neville and Harry were alone. He plopped down next to Harry, his face a mask of disappointment. "Harry, why are you doing this me?" Silence stretched. "Well?" He pressed, becoming annoyed by the silence of his companion.
Harry stared down at his food, again caught in the guilty cycle this supposed savior pressed upon him. The so called life-debt he owed him. Memories flitted across his mind's scape. The two of them descending into the unknown risking their lives to stop Quirrel. Harry's wand firing hexes at a giant snake, while Neville crawled across it, Godric's sword in hand. His trials in time where he was saved by Neville. Neville coming to him amidst the accusing stares of his classmates seeking help with the Goblet of Fire. Then last term, the secret organization they had dubbed, Dumbledore's Army. The same club that was still on-going.
To Harry he hated the position he was in with Neville. It was not a friendship and both knew it, but they had history together, a past. With grudging ability they both had accepted that together they could do many things, accomplish much. But, since the Goblet of Fire Harry has been having doubts. A part of him was wanting to leave this negative relation behind. Last year it had started when he refused to accompany Neville to the Department of Mysteries. It was his refusal and their heated argument that had attracted Snape's attention.
Harry finally glanced away from his dinner, his green eyes meeting two judging brown ones. "I'm tired of putting up with you." He said simply.
Neville rolled his eyes. "And I'm tired of letting every one of your rude infractions pass. Already my friends are questioning me. I can't have that."
Harry shook his head, waiting for Neville to bring around the life-debt. This was their third such conversation since the beginning of the term three weeks ago. "Then just tell them how much of a help I've been."
"I have Harry. I've told them you've helped me." Neville tried making his tone reasonable.
Harry breathed, feeling embers beginning to burn within his mind. He was just so tired of dealing with the Boy-who-lived. "Tell them all of it." He said with some venom.
Neville looked doubtful. "They'd never believe it, and you know it. And that is beside the point in the first place! We had a deal since I saved your life," He paused and gave Harry a significant look.
Harry waited for the guilt, but something instead came in its place. Anger. It wasn't fair for someone to hang this over his head, to control his actions just to keep him in place. The embers in his mind grew to a low flame.
Neville continued, lecturing with a well versed set of words. "You remember that deal, right? Where you would be nice to me, polite to me, and I would show you the same respect? Have I not been nice? Have I nice been cordial to you?" With Neville's tone it seemed the most obvious thing that his argument be swallowed.
Harry drew in a breath. "Yes, you have. You've politely asked me to curse half our classmates because you didn't want it traced back to you. You've cordially told me to watch out for Filch while you had your way with Ron's sister. You've respectfully copied off several of my homework assignments because you were too busy."
Neville drew his eyes together in anger. "You know my reasons for the homework. I was planning the DA lessons and oh you know….trying to stop Voldemort!"
Neither teen flinched. "And the rest?" Harry asked.
The Boy-who-lived shrugged his shoulders. "I admit I was selfish about Ginny, and I haven't done it since last term. And the cursing, that was for the greater good." He held his head aloft.
Harry looked away completely disgusted, realizing again why he wanted to sever ties with him. He could hardly stand him. He'd been barely bearable until he started training them, teaching them in the DA.
Neville grew angry at being ignored by his long-time fellow. They had been through a lot together and each should give the other their due respect. Out of curtesy he had protected Harry whenever his entourage which to teach him a lesson. Out of respect he allowed him to continue training with the DA. Now, though, he was being impossible. He shook his head sadly at what he was being forced to do.
Calmly he stood-up and withdrew his wand, placing it to his throat and said sonorous.
Harry looked to him confused.
Neville ignored him and began to speak. "Everyone may I have your attention? I have some very startling news for you. Harry Potter," he gestured toward him, "has requested I tell you about his part in my travails. You know he has helped me in the past, but apparently he was not happy with just that claim to fame. He wished for specifics to be acknowledged."
Neville paused for dramatic effect.
"First year we descended and stopped Quirrel, together. Save I faced him alone and succeeded. Together we confronted the Basilisk! Of course, I was the one that killed it. Third year I saved him from a hundred Dementors! He…well…was crying for his mummy and daddy curled into a ball on the ground. Fourth year I came to him for help in the trials, but hearing it from him seams like he was the one that won each of them."
He gave a condescending smile which earned many snickers from across entire Great Hall. He then glanced to Harry and gave him a look that said; you brought this upon yourself. He in turn was greeted with furious green eyes. Neville ignored the look and continued.
"Last term I asked him to accompany me on an ill-fated trip. He turned me down after helping me so much in the past. Maybe, because he was finally giving in to his natural cowardice, perhaps? We all remember that time with the troll, right? Found him crawling away crying if I recall correctly."
He put on a beaming smile and radiated it outwards towards the chuckling student body. Some were pointing and others looked incredulous. How could such an upstart think to match Neville's exploits? Sure, he was a great Quidditch player, but catching a snitch and killing a basilisk were two very different things.
Harry's face was a cold thunderstorm as he accepted the many stares and laughing eyes. He poured all of his rage and anger into one malevolent stare before grabbing his bag and magazine and marched off.
Neville smiled sadly. It had to be done, though he regretted taking it to these extremes. He knew later his entourage would be congratulating him on finally reigning in 'that Potter.'
A vague voice filled the Great Hall's air. "Odd. Why were you downplaying all that he did? Does he not deserve some credit for helping?"
Neville's jaw dropped and he turned to stare at the person who possessed the strange voice. The person who would actually have enough guts to try and call him out in front of the entire school. He was quite shocked to see none other than Luna Lovegood. Her clothes were a mottled affair of colors and odd trinkets. Daggling from her ears were two radishes and setting off the ensemble was a necklace of butterbeer caps. Her hair was a straggly mess and her expression constantly surprised, but in those eyes lurked a hint of something righteous.
He easily recovered and answered back. "Now Looney, I just admitted to the school he helped me out. Are you seeing things in my words that aren't there? Perhaps something invisible that doesn't exist?"
There were guffaws of laughter and chuckles from the ones that knew of Luna's odd statements and sentiments. Others that did not still laughed, knowing that Neville had obviously said something very clever.
Luna opened her mouth to retort, Neville waiting, when another voice was heard.
"That will be quite enough ridicule for now, I think." Came McGonagal's severe voice. "This is a place where students eat, not orate." She cast them both a meaningful glare. They nodded their understanding and Neville sat down properly chastened, but he still wore winning smile. As one group his fellows descended upon him clapping him on the back and cheering.
"Bout time, Captain!" Ron exclaimed.
Neville smiled in spite of himself. Perhaps, this had been long overdue.
As he talked about future plans and homework, as well as Potter and Lovegood being kicked from the DA, he failed to notice four people leaving the Great Hall.
Cedric Diggory, his height matching Ron's own, but with broader shoulders. He had gray eyes with chestnut brown hair, and laugh lines arced around his eyes and mouth. To the women, he was very handsome. Behind him came his female companion Cho Chang.
She came to his shoulder in height and she was much more lithe and thin, though her muscles were more defined than most ladies her age. Black hair topped her crown and dark pupils lay in her eyes. They both shared the same year, this being their seventh, both were prefects and both were seekers.
The other was a short fellow with trimmed dark hair and a pale complexion. He was lean and went by the name of Dusty Desert, a seventh year Gryffindor.
The three met at the doors to the Great Hall and spoke in low tones before hurrying off to find their embarrassed friend.
A few moments after their passing a fourth figure left as well, her dirty blonde hair dancing behind her, two radish earrings flopping about to a beat only her feet could hear.
Cedric, Cho, and Dusty walked down the corridor with strong strides, searching empty rooms for their friend, but their search was going no where. Cedric halted and brought out his wand, with a few muttered words the wand suddenly pointed to the right. As they walked forward down the corridor the direction it pointed shifted. The spell pointed the direction Harry was in, going through stone walls. They navigated around the halls and stairs until finally they guessed the room he was in.
The wand pointed to it, but the obvious reason they knew he dwelt within was the small figure guarding the closed entry. He was three feet tall with enormous bulging eyes and a myriad of clothes on, including socks over his comical feet. His large eyes alighted to them and the tension left his shoulders. The small group approached, still slightly apprehensive; they were fully aware how protective Dobby was over his master.
"Hello Masters Diggory, Chang, and Desert. How can Dobby helps you all?" He bobbed his head.
Cho sighed. "Harry's in there, isn't he?"
Dobby looked both ways and whispered a little loudly. "I can't be saying yes or no. I was asked to watch the door and keep any 'pompous asses' from entering."
The door gave a sudden lurch.
Dobby ducked his head, looking red. "Dobby also put quiet-charms on room when Master Harry became loud."
They exchanged glances. One for Dobby's rabid loyalty, considering he was in actuality a freed house-elf. Two, because they feared what was happening with their companion inside the door.
Cho knelt before the worried elf and put a gentle hand on his head. "I think it'll be okay if we went in to see him, Dobby. We are his friends after all, right?"
Dobby nodded eagerly, clasping and unclasping his hands. "Yes, yes! Yous all have always been nice to Master Harry. Always." He gave another glance to the door, belying his nervousness even more. None had seen Harry is such a state before.
He clapped his hands and the door unlocked.
Rising Cho drew her wand along with Dusty and Cedric. Diggory went in first, wand readied for any reprisals and called out quickly. "It's us Harry! Hold off for a second!" Cedric had no idea what he was telling Harry to hold off from, but he was certain there was a lot of magic being cast within the room. As they entered the devastated classroom it was made even more apparent.
Where desks had once occupied were instead pieces and powders of woods. A large desk could be seen in the corner, slowly smoking from the dying embers wrapping around it. Purple and blue haze was in abundance as well as gray dust from where pieces of the walls had seen spells arced against them.
Harry was standing amidst it all, wand at his side heaving and sweating, his green eyes wild with strained emotions; his black hair slick and sticking against his head. He regarded them with a strong glance before giving a shuddering sigh, releasing the emotions that had held him taunt for the past few minutes.
Dusty wished to say a joke, but found under the circumstances it would not be very appropriate. Cho stepped over the various piles of wreckage and greeted Harry with a platonic embrace. Cedric was there too and eventually Dusty as well. Cho broke away after the young lad whispered. "Thanks."
He waved his wand and conjured for them some chairs. Once seated Harry looked distantly away, staring beyond all the carnage. The rest waited, knowing he would eventually speak his mind.
"I just couldn't take him anymore. I kept replaying all those years of us together, doing things. Me saving him so many times and he me." Anger crossed his eyes. "But he would only recognize that he saved my life that once. That all the others didn't count! That I was only in his debt! Did you know when we argued last year, when we got Snape's attention, that he kept shouting I owed him. That I had to go with him. He practically threw the thing in my face!" His wand was out and quivering.
Cedric placed a calming hand on it. Harry visibly relaxed. "Mate, we're here for you. Alright. We know everything he's put you through and we get it."
Harry breathed a final sigh and let the growing fires within him dissipate.
Dusty spoke next. "How long you been keeping this bottled up?" He gave a significant look around him.
Harry laughed sheepishly. "Dunno, it just sort of came out of me."
Cho brought a finger to her mouth. "You missed Luna's calling him out." A mischievous smile spread across her Asianic features.
Harry looked forward surprised. "Really?"
She nodded. "She said something about downplaying your help and that you deserved some credit. I thought Neville had swallowed his toad Trevor by the way he reacted."
Harry's face became stoic. "How did he respond?"
Cedric spoke. "Said something about seeing invisible things in his words. He was a right ass about it to her. She would have said something else had McGonagal not interfered."
Dusty sighed. "This isn't going to end well for anyone is it?" He sounded defeated.
Three pairs of eyes looked to him in confusion.
He shrugged. "We all know how Neville is…and how you are." He said gesturing towards Cedric and Harry.
They still looked confused.
"Think about it. He just tried to put you in your place, something I already know you're not going put up with. He just called out Luna, but that won't be enough for him. He'll want to make sure she doesn't do it again. When he does do something you and Cedric will retaliate." Dusty finished sounding lame.
Cho shook her head. "Neville might not do it, he may thing her beneath his notice. Or he might send Ron or McLaggen. And what makes you think Harry and Cedric will want to fight back?" She sounded doubtful.
Harry and Cedric both exchanged weighted glances, things weighing in on them from the past bringing with it long buried guilts.
Dusty ignored their looks and plodded onward. "Because Harry won't let Neville keep him in line anymore."
Cho opened her mouth to respond, but Cedric spoke in her stead. "He's right." He sounded depressed as he spoke his buried secrets. "I should have done something before now. We all should have." He glanced to Harry.
Harry saw the cue. "Yeah, we should have, but we never did." He gave a ruthful laugh. "I'm even the one whose done most of Neville's dirty work." He sounded disgusted with himself.
"And I should have stopped you." Cedric put in. "It's just not fair for anyone to have that kind of control over the students. It's not right." Cedric said firmly.
Dusty smiled ruefully. "I told you Cho."
She looked down, understanding her boyfriend's and friend's points of view, but not liking where it would lead. "You do know this won't end well, right?" She hushed Dusty with a glance, who smiled as she mirrored his statement from earlier. "You'll be challenging him directly and he won't stand still until you've all been put back in your places."
Cedric shook his head in disagreement, his hand finding hers. "We won't be challenging him, just protecting people from him."
A set of green eyes smoldered with determination. "You'll be protecting them, I'll be challenging him. I've got years of pay back for him."
Dusty shrugged and looked away, slightly sad and slightly invigorated. For seven years he had passed through Hogwarts with very little attention upon himself. He looked to his left arm gloved hand and grimaced. With that addition the stares had been coming, the curiosity burning in stranger's eyes. Only the three present here had actually seen it. "I'm in." He said simply.
Cedric shook his head. "This isn't your fight. Or yours either." He said indicating Cho.
She drew herself up and crossed her arms. "Try and stop me from helping my boyfriend. I dare you." Cedric winced at her tone. "I may not have the guilt trips you two do, but I'm your friend and you're going to need someone to watch your back if you're going to paint it with a red target."
Harry laughed and Cedric grinned. A ghost of a smile flitted across Dusty's features. "So what's the plan, Captain?" All eyes fell upon Harry.
Ron Weasley. Seamus Finnigan. Cormac McLaggen. Dean Thomas. They were the Entourage of Neville Longbottom. His most loyal supporters and friends. They had been his companions through it all, hearing him bemoan his lot in life, hearing him struggle with the burdens of fate. To the world they may have been flat characters of unquestioning obedience, but in the reality of their little clique, they had depth, character and emotions.
Ron Weasley was not comfortable to have Ginny that comfortable with Neville, he even spoke out against their public displays. Neville, though irked, acquiesced and kept things private between himself and her. McLaggen was too proud to be anywhere else, and felt only at ease in the company of Neville. He knew none but these fellows could stand his boorish attitude and demanding voice.
Seamus was an Irish ball of anger, and fiercely loyal to any who despoiled Neville's name. It had been the Boy-who-lived that had sheltered Seamus his second year when many had thought him behind the attacks. Dean was by far the most questionable member, actively siding against Neville on many subjects, most dealing with his reprisals. It had been his idea to use Harry, not liking to have to do the deeds himself and not liking his friends doing them either.
These five were by habit the top of the social ladder, all due to Neville. Many from other houses flocked to them, for they excelled in most of their classes. Some ignored them or went about their business, not caring who was cool and who not. They passed the corridor with speed towards their main place of meet. The Room of Requirement. It was here within its private walls they discussed the future of their actions.
"I'm saying we won't be able to find anyone else. It's going to have to be us now Dean." Neville said placating the tall dark skinned teen. "I know you're not comfortable with it, but we have to remind our schoolmates that respecting one another and upholding politeness are essentials in life I will not have anyone skirting. People in life have places and lines they must not cross."
He stood and waved his arms passionately, showing them the emotion he felt about the subject he was preaching to them. "The professors are only worried about their rules and keeping the students safe, especially in times such as these. But, I can see otherwise in the cracks forming. People are feeling the pressure and when that happens society breaks apart. Just look at it earlier. Two other house members at our table! Two at once! A perfect example of things going wrong."
"So who else shall see these tears mended? Who else shall step forward and accept this burden if not us? Are we not qualified for it? Have we not been doing for years now?"
"Here here!" Cried McLaggen.
"Yeah!" Echoed Ron.
Dean looked away and Seamus echoed his friends glance, but not his disapproval.
"Alright then, it is settled. For your constitution Dean, I'll not have you participate. But, can I still count on you to defend us if people step too far from the boundaries?"
Dean nodded. "I'm still your man, Captain, I just don't like hurting people who…" He trailed away uncertain how they would see his thoughts. People who don't deserve it.
"Good good." Neville said clapping his hands. "Now we must decide on what to do about this Loony character. I know she is batty and it shall be difficult to get our point across, but we shall succeed."
With that their discussions began. Dean looked introspective, not liking this one bit. He could lie to himself no longer, because now the burden was directly upon him. In the past it had been only indirect with Potter's hands painted and not his or his friends. Now, though, the guilt was assailing him and it was too difficult to push aside. He sighed quietly, unsure of his fellow's involvement in all this. None had Potter's experience or deft hand.
Over the next few weeks being Harry Potter became something of a trial. He had been, after all, Neville's personal agent acting in his voice to mete out punishments. Many had not reprised seeing him associated with Neville, but now that protection was gone and many who held grudges had acted on them. Including Draco Malfoy. If he had been observant he would have heard the whispers from others who had sought retribution. How they had failed utterly and in turn been again embarrassed. None had realized how quick with a spell Harry Potter actually was.
Five years he had been harassed and plagued by Neville's gofer, and finally an opportunity for revenge had come. He waited at the head of the stairs, malevolent slate eyes eagerly waiting. Flanking him were Crabbe and Goyle, his loyal bodyguards. Thoughts of his father assailed his mind, his advice running rampant. Remember a jinx is to show them irritation, but a curse will show them fear.
Potter should be on his way, having received a false note saying Cho wanted to talk to him near Ravenclaw Tower. This was the easiest and quickest route he would take. Draco stood ready, his feet apart and tense and his wand before him. He had every advantage, and when the spell he would cast landed, then Harry would find it difficult to counter while he was ablaze.
Two figures rounded the bend and placed their feet onto the first step. Malfoy did not wait a moment longer than it took to confirm one was Harry, he knew his friends would eliminate the other. He motioned with his wand and shouted. "Incendio!"
Two pairs of eyes looked skyward in alarm and both reacted. Harry was drawing his wand and moving to the right, as Malfoy had anticipated and aimed the spell there. But, he did not foresee Dusty moving as well, throwing his left arm forward to shield Harry from the spell.
Harry's eyes widened in shock for a moment as the arm covering him instantly erupted into flames. Dusty pulled away thrashing his arm awkwardly, the glove covering his hand catching fire as well.
Draco stared wide-eyed and was soon rushing down the stairs casting Expelliarmus. Harry sidestepped and cast the banishing spell over Malfoy's head. The young Slytherin heard a grunt from behind him as Crabbe's body hit the stone wall he was banished into. Another spell escaped Harry's wand to strike the stairs beneath Draco. Confringo.
The stairs exploded in a display of dusts and chunks of rock, throwing both he and Goyle backwards up the stairs from the strength of the spell. Malfoy was dazed for a moment as his neck struck a step. He heard Goyle moaning in pain behind him. He tried to catch his breath and coughed some of the stone dust from his mouth.
Thought returned to him slowly and with a panic he realized what situation he was in. He had just set fire to Dusty's arm and Harry had looked pissed. He awkwardly began to get to his feet when a figure suddenly loomed within his sight.
He paled seeing the anger in those dark eyes as Dusty stood before him. Draco reacted quickly, but Harry's hand wrenched his wand from him. Then something reached for his collar and he jerked away at the foreign metallic object, until he realized it was attached to Dusty.
Most of the teen's uniformed sleeve had been burnt away revealing his new appendage. It was bone-thin and seemed to pivot awkwardly on ball joints at the elbow and wrist. Five skeletal fingers emanated from that wrist joint in mocking imitation of a human hand. It was with those metallic fingers that he caught Malfoy's collar and pulled him into the air.
Draco was horrified to have something like this touch him, and terrified to find Dusty holding him still for Harry's retribution; the former's green eyes blazing with anger. His words found Draco's ears. "Couldn't have used something less, could you? I guess I shouldn't expect something subtle from the son of a Death Eater."
Indignation crossed Draco's features, and he was rudely shaken by Dusty in response. Harry's wand found his nose, its tip glowing a baleful yellow.
"Any suggestions, Malfoy? I'm sure you know a few appropriate spells?" Harry asked, his tone anything but light. "No? Okay, I'll just have to get creative then."
Draco paled and his eyes widened when suddenly he was unceremoniously dropped back onto the steps. A pain hit his hip, but he ignored it, all his focus on Harry, who he found was wielding his own wand. His scheming mind already knew why, so any attempt Draco made at trying to seek a professor would look bad on him as well. Their brief altercation would pass under the teaching staff's noses.
"Crucio." Harry uttered, the strength of his words adding to its intensity.
Pain was all Draco knew. Everlasting and never-ending. It rebounded itself within his frame, wrecking his mental faculties as he tried to combat it. That defense was blown away by the searing waves of agony having their way with his system. He did not know he was writhing and jerking about, his body's automatic defense in trying to alleviate the torment. It was not working in the least.
After an eternity of thoughtless suffering, it finally ended, with a sweating teen panting from the exertions. He felt something light strike his chest. His wand. Harry's words barely registered with him. "Don't hurt my friends again, Draco."
A/N:: Whelp, there's the first real chapter. I think I shall clear the air on Cedric, knowing many will probably point out the impossibility of him being at school, let alone alive. Neville reached the cup before anyone else, and was the only Hogwarts Champion. I think it better to trick a cup into choosing him than making it think there were three schools. I think that is truly Rowling's weakest plot explanation. As for him being at school still...I wanted the three team seekers together, so made Cedric born a year later, putting him in Cho's age. I'm sorry if this bothers anyone, but I really think he got shafted in the series. So, please review and tell me what you think.