Chapter two
Harry turned away from the forbidden forest and spotted Hagrid walking around his hut, so he made his way over to his large friend.
'Hagrid, is everything okay?'
'Harry, um yeah, just trying to work out how to fix me house.'
Harry stared at him for a moment, 'Give me a minute,' Harry pulled his wand and summoned his old pouch from the castle. A minute later it flew into Harry's hands, so he rummaged around inside and pulled out a wand, then handed it to Hagrid, 'Use this Hagrid, at least it's not broken and if you don't remember the spells, I can show you if you want.'
'But they snapped me wand Harry.'
'You were cleared of that Hagrid, so you can have one now. So use this until you get another one. I don't need it, I won it off someone.'
Hagrid smiled then took the wand, he put his old umbrella down then looked sheepishly at Harry.
'I don't remember the spells.'
'I'll remind you and then give you a hand. We'll get your house fixed up in no time. It can't be Hogwarts without Hagrid's hut.'
'Thanks Harry.'
Harry went about showing Hagrid the different spells that would repair his house. Then they both stood together over the next couple of hours putting the hut back to the way it was. When they were done, Harry saw large tears falling down his friends face, so he patted his arm.
'Go organise your house Hagrid, I'll visit again soon, 'Harry went to turn but Hagrid grabbed him in a hug, 'It's fine Hagrid, you're my friend,' Harry could see how emotional Hagrid was, so he gave him a smile and walked away.
Harry walked slowly back to the castle and thought he really should eat, even if he didn't feel like sitting alone in the common room, so he headed into the great hall and sat down at his old table.
'Kreacher,' Harry called and within a few seconds the old elf appeared, Harry gave him a smile, 'Hello Kreacher.'
'It is good to see master Harry is well. Do you wish something from Kreacher?'
'Yeah, I'm a bit hungry, could you get me something to eat and some tea would be nice.'
'I will return very fast master,' the elf bowed, snapped his fingers and disapparated.
'What's with the house elf Harry?' Neville asked as he sat down opposite.
'Hey Neville, that's mine that Sirius left me. I'm not too keen on owning them, but Kreacher is very old, so I usually leave him here to help and he seems to like being with the other house elves.'
Kreacher appeared beside Harry, 'Here's your food master Harry, your favourites and some nice hot tea. I made it special as Kreacher belongs to the house of Potter.'
'I know Kreacher and thanks. Could you always make my food while I'm here, I've gotten a little paranoid lately?'
'Of course master Harry, Kreacher will be the only elf to cook for my master.'
'Okay, thanks, you can go back to the kitchens now,' Harry smiled then started eating.
'Are you really paranoid about your food?'
'Yean, I don't know why, especially since he's gone. I just keep getting these flashes of Mad-Eye saying constant vigilance, so I'm taking a leap out of his book.'
'Well after all the times he tried to kill or capture you, I don't blame you Harry. So are you heading to the Burrow with Ron?'
'No, I'm hanging around here to help repair this place. What about you, heading home with your gran?'
'For now, but over the last few months, I've found I liked being able to do what I want. So I'm going to get my own place, well after I find work that is.'
'I get you there Neville. I said that to Ron, knowing if I went to the Burrow Mrs. Weasley would keep treating me as a kid, I'm way past that. So I'll stay here, then buy a place when I'm ready to leave.'
'Can I ask you something Harry?'
'Anything Neville.'
'I'm a little confused, but you told me the snake had to die, I just don't know why.'
'Oh, um, when I was talking to Voldemort in here, did you hear me say horcruxes?'
'Yeah, didn't know what you were talking about though and I noticed everyone else looked just as confused as I did.'
'It's not widely knows, but a horcrux is a thing you put a piece of your soul into so you cannot die. The snake was one, but that's what we turned up to find and what we were doing when we were away, looking for his horcruxes and destroying them. That's the job Dumbledore gave me before he died.'
'Wow, I never realised it was so important. I'm glad you never told me before. So you must have got them all since he did die.'
'Yep, between me, Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione and you, oh Crabbe as well, he set fiend fyre that destroyed one, so there all gone, thank merlin.'
'So he made six, blimey he really didn't want to die, did he Harry?'
'No he didn't,' Harry didn't want to elaborate about how many there really was.
'But I need to know one more thing Harry. When you told me the snake had to die, I asked you if you were going to give yourself up to him, you said you weren't, but you did. So I need to know why you lied to me. Normally I know you wouldn't unless you either couldn't say because you promised someone or it was dangerous.'
Harry sighed and took a drink of his tea, 'Okay, I'll tell you but can you keep it to yourself Neville? Apart from Ron and Hermione, I don't want it known.'
'You know I will, you have my word.'
'Okay, there was another horcrux that no one knew about. Not me, or Voldemort, but I found out right before I saw you. So while he still had one out there, he couldn't die, right?'
'Right, I got that bit.'
'Well, I was one Neville, he made me one by accident when I was a baby. So I had to die so he could. That's why I lied and why I surrendered to him, it's also the reason why you were able to break through that curse when he had the sorting hat on you. Because I walked up to him, never fought and let him kill me, it gave all of you a protection, but it also destroyed the horcrux inside me when he hit me with the killing curse. I never knew I would survive, I thought I would die when I went in there and that's another reason I never told anyone, not even Ron and Hermione, well, until after. I didn't want anyone trying to talk me out of it, trying to say we'd find another way. I knew there was no other way, Dumbledore explained all that to me before he died.'
Neville stared at Harry in stunned silence, 'You let him kill you, you never fought Harry?'
'No, it was bloody hard, not just that I'm used to fighting, but thinking of all of my friends, knowing they would be upset when I was gone. But to me, no matter how scared I was, I knew I had no choice and was willing to do anything so our world could be safe,' Harry could see Neville was upset, 'I'm sorry I lied to you Neville, but you said it to me, we're going to keep fighting. There wouldn't have been any use if I lived and everyone on our side could have died. I wasn't going to let any more die, not if I could do something to stop it.'
'Blimey Harry, it's fine, I get it now. But how did you do that, find the courage to do that?'
'I was thinking about my parents, Sirius and Remus, everyone else that died as well. They died and I knew I could stop more dying, so I spoke to them as I walked,' Harry knew he could never tell Neville or anyone the truth, but he wasn't really lying this time.
'I know I've got my parents Harry, even if they can't talk to me. But you never had anyone and you were still willing to do that. Do you think it made it easier, knowing you didn't have family? Yeah, you have friends, but that's different to a family.'
'It did make it easier, I didn't have to make them go through what the Weasley's are right now. Since they were already gone, I know all of you would have been upset and missed me, but it is different. Hermione modified her parent's memories and sent them away for their safety and if she died, well she knew they were happy and didn't know they had a daughter. Ron used the old ghoul, dressed him up and gave him what looked like spattergroit which kept his family safe. I never had to worry about that and I know it made me a bit reckless at times, not having to think or worry that there was someone home waiting for me.'
'Yeah, when the Carrows realised I was causing them problems, they went after gran, so I had to be careful after that even if gran can take care of herself, I still had to think about her. I get it Harry, I'm just glad you survived. I think all your friends are, not just that you ended it but I think we'd miss having Harry Potter to inspire us.'
'I never wanted that Neville, but I heard and saw what you, Luna, Seamus and everyone else did while I was away and if I inspired that in any way, then I'm proud of all of you. Everyone that was left here had to deal with their own hardship and suffering, but you never quit, just like Hermione, Ron and I wouldn't quit. But it's over, we can all finally have normal lives for a change.'
'Yes we can Harry, and I for one am not going to waste it anymore. So I might go find Hannah and tell her I want to take her out on a date,' Neville stood up, patted Harry's hand then walked away.
Harry smiled as he watched his friend leave the great hall and he got a good feeling about Neville. He knew he had changed over the years, but now he was such a confident young man and Harry knew he was part of that change, which made Harry feel good about himself.
Harry finished eating, drank the last of his tea and was just about to get up and leave the great hall when McGonagall walked up to him and Harry noticed instantly she looked worried.
'What's wrong professor?'
'I'm not quite sure Harry. When I went up to my office I found an envelope on my desk with Albus' writing. It wasn't there earlier and I have never seen it before either.'
'Do you know who put it there?'
'Yes, Albus did, he had this letter charmed to appear after Voldemort died. So I read it and he wants all the ones we really trust to meet here in two weeks' time.'
'What else did he say?'
'Only that he had some things to explain that he couldn't tell anyone before, especially you.'
'Do you think another letter will arrive with that explanation?'
'Yes, so he must have these magically seals and was just waiting until Voldemort died before it activated. I went to ask his portrait, but he was not there and knowing Albus, he won't return until after that meeting in two weeks.'
'No I don't think he will either. Damn, I hope it's not more bad news, I'm just starting to relax.'
'I don't think it will be Harry, or Albus would have warned me. I think why he asked for two weeks is so we can get through the funerals. Like Fred's because all the Weasley's will need to be here for this meeting, then Remus and Nymphadora's funeral will be after Fred's.'
'Yeah, makes sense, but if he does turn up in his portrait, try and find out. I really don't need anything else to happen. I don't think I could take anymore.'
'I will Harry, but try not to worry, I'm sure it's just something he never told you or why he never told you about the horcrux. So try and relax and put it out of your mind for now.'
'Easier said than done, but I'll try professor,' Harry said as she walked away and his thoughts just kept wondering what else Dumbledore had in store for him. So he ended up back outside in the ground, but this time he sat in his spot that he used to sit at after Sirius died and just kept going over what Dumbledore said to Snape in the memory, but nothing came to him. Then he started to think about all their conversations, but still nothing came to him. So he figured he should do what McGonagall suggested and put it out of his mind and relax. So he stayed sitting there staring out over the sunlit water, watching the water ripple in the light breeze and it did help him relax. So he stayed there for the rest of the day, just enjoying doing nothing for the first time in years.
