Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does. As Proof of this, notice the sixth book does not have Luna searching for Crumple Horned Snorkacks... in Harry's pants!

Chapter 6 – But Terry and Julie, cross over the river…Where they feel safe and sound


"Luna, you don't have to go." Harry said calmly. He had noticed that the girl had not shown any reaction to Harry whatsoever and worried he might have hurt her feelings.

She paused at his words… each facing the opposite direction. Luna, the door; Harry, the couch she had been occupying.

"I wouldn't have questioned you, you know?"

"I know"

"Good… Goodnight Ronald… Harry…"

And with that she left the room.

:-..-..-..-..-:

Harry Turned to watch as Luna walked out of his suite door. Moments earlier he was ready to unleash his mighty vocal chords in a repeat performance from just over a year ago. Now as he watched the last shreds of Luna Lovegoods white skirt vanish past the entry way doors, he could only slouch in defeat.

He had only meant to avoid Hermione and Ginny for the day… in actuality he had meant to avoid everyone, but his roomies had scratched that plan. Now he felt like he was back in his old school and he had made fun of the lonely girl by the swings, who had just lost her goldfish.

'Damn it all! … Life was so much easier when Dudley scared away my friends' Harry cynically reminded himself.

Harry regained his posture from sheer will to not show his weakened state and marched toward the door. He firmly grabbed the handle, and closed the door quickly but gently. Placing his hand on the metal plate running parallel to the handle and waiting for the characteristic glow letting him know that the extra security features… which included a hefty locking spell secured the flat.

"You're the Teaspoon!"

Harry warily turned his head toward the quite but angry voice of his only vocal defender for the night. 'What now…'

"Huh?"

"Teaspoon… You…. Not me!" This helpful sentence was followed by even more helpful hand gestures, before Ron decided to awkwardly tried to also try and take on his mother's angry posture. Harry briefly wondered why everyone tried to adopt her standing gestures when they were angry.

"Why am I suddenly the Teaspoon?" Harry cautiously questioned his best mate.

"Why did you have to do that… You dragged me and Neville into this… now were going to have to choose sides." Ron started to pace back and forth around the coffee table in front of the same fluffy white couch Luna and Ginny had been sitting on earlier. He seemed to realise his earlier attempts to intimidate using the Molly Weasley method were inadequate at best.

"I didn't drag you two in… Hermione did" Harry defensively added.

"Rubbish… You dragged us in when you kicked her out." The pacing was starting to make Harry slightly dizzy. This whole evening was making him dizzy.

"As I remember it… you agreed with me." He reminded.

"I may have agreed with you… but I shouldn't have taken sides… Neville was smart, he didn't." Ron admitted tiredly. He stopped his pacing and plopped back down on the couch. Taking on a pensive posture as he slouched forward, and rubbed the right side of his forehead while squinting at the empty glass vase that Neville had been stealing orchids from.

"Why now Harry… she's been like this since we met her… why did you have to start now." Ron asked sadly. Harry's growing aggravation abated at his friends almost pleading tone as he contemplated the empty vase.

"Ron… I'm sorry. But I just don't want to be bossed around anymore." Harry tried to explain to his friend.

"Surely you know… with growing up with so many brothers and Ginny, privacy's important. I need my privacy Ron… It's not like very much of my life is very private to begin with." Ending quietly but bitterly Harry took a seat next to his roommate. Leaning back fully letting his spine model itself to the contours of the couch as his neck swivelled to allow him an uninterrupted view of the ceiling. A soft yellow glow from the room lamp creating splotchy shadows that stretched away into the furthest reaches of the light.

"I don't blame you for wanting your privacy Harry… To tell you the truth I was rooting you on back there when you stood your ground. But the way you did it… we'll be lucky if she talks to us by September first… if not Christmas…."

Ron paused his speech as he formulated his response.

"All I know is… That may have not been the worst way to handle the situation… but it sure wasn't the best."

"I know…" Harry admitted. He wasn't going to tell Ron that he would do it all over again in a heartbeat but he was sufficiently remorseful to sympathise with Ron's plight. To be fair Harry had placed his friends in a tricky bind by forcing his roommates to take sides in his dispute with Hermione. Ginny seemed to stick with the female solidarity … however reluctantly and Ron with the male. Luna and Neville being the new additions to the group no matter how unofficially, managed to gain an awkward neutral territory, as they neither supported or condemned Harry and Hermione's split.

Although each had their own issues to pick with either member.

Harry felt a hand firmly pat his shoulder as he continued to stare at the soft yellow light cast shadows on the ceiling.

"I suppose were in it together… but your going to have to solve this problem soon. Even if she is wrong… we've been through too much to just give it all up now after one fight." Ron said mildly. It was a tone reminiscent of Remus in all his haggard glory. Ron truly sounded like he was growing into somebody he could be proud of.

The hand disappeared and Harry looked on to the slowly retreating form of his friend as he made his way toward his room.

"I suppose you're not a teaspoon then…" Harry admitted wryly.

"I'm a freaking barrel you ponce! …don't you forget it." Ron exclaimed with arm extended in emphasis as he disappeared behind his door.

:-..-..-..-..-:

The suits really were practically their own little apartments; their own three bedroom, 48th floor, magical apartment, with kitchen, bath, and Laundry service via elf.

Harry managed a restless sleep before he woke up and started to make breakfast for the trio. It was about 6 in the morning and he had eyrie flashbacks of his cousin demanding more bacon each time he splattered himself with grease.

Harry regarded cooking the same as he did gardening. Some might think he had become quite the chef with all the years he spent cooking or aiding his aunt cook enormous meals for his large male relatives… but he hadn't. If he ever did get married his wife would either have to love to cook or be willing to spend his fortune on dinners out most nights as he planned to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible. True he was above average, but the act of even buttering toast brought back unpleasant memories he wasn't fond of dealing with.

For all these reasons and more… Harry thought cooking a meal for his friends would be an ideal way of apologizing. He questioned himself on his next course of action but decided he had to suck it in as he wasn't willing to facedown the angry female glares he was expecting.

"Chippy? You awake?"

"Good morning Master Harry Sir." The cheery little elf popped in.

"Sorry if this is too early but… is there any way you could tell me if Hermione is awake? Hermione Granger… the girl I eat with…"

"Oh Chippy knows who young master is be talking bouts." The excitable elf said in a less happy kind of growl. 'S.P.E.W. strikes again I see'

"ah, yea… do you think I could bother you to check without waking her if she is sleeping…" Harry asked apprehensively. Harry didn't think the girl in question would be too thrilled with Harry using Chippy this way either… but one issue at a time.

"Of course master Harry sir…"

"… If you could do it without being seen that would be great" Harry added in quickly. Harry wasn't sure if the little elf caught all that, as she had already popped out of existence, but held out hope that she would be discreet.

POP

"She is being awake master Harry sir… she is be reading." Chippy said immediately.

'Excellent.'

"Thanks Chippy" Harry checked his watch he had recently had repaired on one of his excursions into the Muggle world. 'Still got 20 minutes…'

"Chippy… if you could watch over the food I made and keep it warm I'd be really grateful."

"Oh young master needn't worry. Chippy be doing it right away."

"Thanks… help yourself if you're hungry… I know there's plenty." Harry called as he made his way out the door.

He could faintly hear Chippy go into one of her classical crying fits about how wonderful he was to her as he was already making his way down to the portkey transport pads.

:-..-..-..-..-:

KNOCK

KNOCK

KNOCK

"One minute…" a muffled voice echoed behind the wooden door.

"Yes can I… Oh... it's you." Hermione started to frown at her long time friend.

"Ah … yeah… its me." Harry said awkwardly. Harry had hoped Hermione had cooled down slightly and would be as embarrassed as he was by the situation… but if she was, she was hiding it extremely well behind her mask of apathy, and distaste.

"Can I come in?" Harry asked awkwardly as the silence stretched on.

Hermione raised her eyebrow in a mocking gesture; silently asking whether he was seriously asking her that.

"Right… I deserve that I guess. Anyway I came by now to see if we could resolve this thing now before it gets out of hand." Harry said reluctantly. It always seemed like he was the one who was doing the apologizing and being the responsible one to set the good example. This was eating at him particularly as he was still convinced that he was in the right of last evening.

He was only doing this because his argument as Ron had pointed out was dragging everyone else into it. He didn't want this to become some teenage drama fest where the boys and the girls would be in heated dispute with each other. It sickened him just thinking about it. He was sure the boys would win hands down… but that was besides the point.

Hermione stared at Harry with her eye brow still raised in defiance.

Slowly it started to lower as her face took on a more contrite appearance.

"I guess I was a bit out of line yesterday."

"As was I… Can we just forget about last night and put it behind us… I made breakfast in our suite… I'd really like it if you and the girls would join us."

In all honesty asking the girls to join them had been a last minute addition to his plan as he had made one too many pancakes as he aimlessly tended the gas stoves. It was a good Idea to include the other three but the original was mainly for Neville and Ron in apology.

Hermione smiled warmly at Harry. "I guess we could do that… The girls shouldn't be up for another…half hour… let's say we meet you boys at 8?"

"I'll keep Ron away from your stack of pancakes till then." Harry said in appreciation.

As Harry jauntily made his way back towards his room; still proud that his hastily cooked up plan had worked… an annoying little voice in the back of his mind whispered …

'This isn't over yet.'

:-..-..-..-..-:

Harry made it back just as Neville had peeked his head outside his door.

"Neville… hey!" Harry said hurriedly in greeting.

"Harry… what are you doing up so early." Neville said wide eyed. He was already dressed and carrying around a large highly polished black box with a silver handle. It was slightly too big to be a briefcase. Harry thought about asking him about it but by the way Neville tried to move it behind him… Harry could tell that this was one of those secrets Harry had argued for the right to have the night before.

"No reason… well couldn't sleep much... Neville…um… well look, I'm sorry about last night, I shouldn't have dragged you and Ron into this."

"It's okay…" Neville said noncommittally as he looked away from Harry. He seemed to sniff the air and perk up slightly.

"Oh yea I made us all breakfast as a kind of sorry for the drama. I made up with Hermione just now and the girls should be here by 8…"

Neville noticeably relaxed as he smiled a relieved smile. "Oh that's great."

Harry thought Neville had been a little more worried about the fight than he had let on.

"Now all we need to do is keep Ron away from the food till then." Harry reminded his friend in worry as Ron's door handle gave an ominous creak.

:-..-..-..-..-:

Breakfast had been a strange affair. The girls had shown up and Ron had dug in with relish as he was all but being restrained from his food.

That was the only truly normal thing about it. Everyone spoke in cheery strained tones… afraid to break the peace. Hermione asking inconsequential things trying to avoid the subject all together. Ginny laughing hysterically at almost any half wit joke, Neville smiling uncomfortably to all, and Luna…

Luna had been normal for Luna in many ways… she spoke frequently about mysterious unknown creatures and conspiracies and did little rituals with her salt and fork to ward away the lepticules…

But there was something missing in her interactions. It was a closeness she had begun to develop with the members of the table. She was still cordial but she was back to just being dreamy.

Harry reflected on how disappointing it was; but quickly regained his focus as he dodged another red spell and lost consciousness.

Harry blearily opened his eyes to find the stern taskmaster of a trainer standing above him. He had been pulled away by a yawning Tonks who told him he was expected on the forth flour to start his training.

Harry thought she should have called it torture.

"So this is the great Harry Potter… well, you aren't bad… but you certainly aren't very good either." His instructor criticized, oddly paraphrasing Ron.

Harry had gotten used to the man's acerbic comments after he was knocked unconscious for the third time.

The man who had ordered Harry to call him "Sir", had started out by having Harry shoot every known spell he could think to use in a fight, at 8 separate glass balls that ended up glowing a pale yellow at the end of the exercise. Which also left Harry feeling like he had, had all his blood leached out of him.

After that he had been given a bright aqua potion and a glass of water. The potion which surprisingly tasted good, no flavour that he could really identify, but just sent pleasant tingles down his tongue; caused him to feel like he could climb the wall with his bare hands.

After which he had duelled 'sir', then 'a nameless order member', then both. Then two nameless order members… and so forth till time seemed to just bleed away.

Each time finding himself out cold within 15 minutes.

"Alright grab another potion and stand on the black circle in the corner of the room." The man said tirelessly.

Harry obediently obeyed as he had learned quickly, dilly dallying did him no favours with this instructor.

The room itself was the size of a slightly large gym. Ropes and pulleys decorated the walls, attached to varying weights and other twirling shiny objects similar to what he had destroyed in Dumbledore's Office. The roof that was a good 3 stories up was littered with hundreds of thousands, if not millions of small grey circles extruded downwards. A large white sphere halfway protruding from the centre of the ceiling.

Harry quickly but painfully grabbed a potion and sprinted over to the indicated black circle. It was about 12 feet in diameter and unremarkable as far as Harry could discern.

That's why Harry knew he was going to be in a lot of pain soon.

"Alright Potter, we are going to start you off by having you defend yourself while in an enclosed space." At this he swished his long cream coloured wand in Harry's general direction. Instantly the black lines around Harry turned blue and rose quickly toward the ceiling where it seemed to fade into nothingness before it reached the tips of the circles.

Harry looked around himself to see any change in his surroundings. The only difference he could tell was that the circle he was standing in was a navy blue and it seemed to move slowly toward the centre of the room.

Harry looked up toward his smirking trainer in question. "Sir?"

All Harry got in response was a disturbing smirk and a mocking salute.

Harry heard a fizzling sound from behind him and turned slowly to see what was making the noise.

Quickly Harry jumped forward as the air had stung him. At the end of the circle a light blue watery shield rippled slightly in wake of Harry's pain before quickly disappearing.

The circle seemed to take on new life as instantly it started to move faster and more jerkily about the room. Each time Harry came too close to exiting its reaches, he would hear a fizzling hiss and then get stung by the shield. Harry quickly learned to stay in the centre of the circle.

But not before the ceiling activated.

Each little circular protrusion sent out multiple spells; from levitation spells to stunners, with no shortage on shockers or slight pain curses in between.

The stupefies were the worst, as each time Harry became unconscious, the circle would wake him with a prolonged shock that left his sides numb for minutes on end.

Harry was reasonably sore at the end of the day as he was locked in the little space for a good 4 hours.

:-..-..-..-..-:

Sir had dismissed Harry with a praising…" you weren't too bad, but I expect better tomorrow."

Harry was surprised to find that it was already getting dark out. He decided to find his friends and see if the situation had improved since earlier that morning.

As he made his way towards his suite he tried not to think of his humbling experience with the irritating man. Harry had always prided himself on his skills in duelling but had never really had a true challenge paired against his fellow students.

The department of mysteries while chaos in its own right, was more a large scale game of hide and go seek with Harry luckily being shielded by the prophecy everyone seemed to want.

Harry was heartened by the fact that at least he had been able to endure the hellish training up until the very end. While not lifting weights or exercising in the conventional sense… it left him drained in ways that were reminiscent of his experiences duelling Voldemort at the end of forth year. He was reasonably sure not everyone could last as long as he.

Harry opened the door to his suite to find Ron sitting alone on the couch. He lay sprawled with appendages hanging limply at his sides as he dangled his foot back and forth.

At the sound of the door opening He perked up immediately and looked towards Harry in unmitigated glee.

"Harry!" he cheered.

"What's going on Ron...?" Harry asked cautiously at his unnaturally chipper welcome.

"I'm so bloody bored. The girls left to go do their shopping and haven't stopped by." Ron practically bounced around Harry in unused energy.

"What about Neville?"

"Haven't seen him since this morning… disappeared on me saying he had some errands to do for his Gran." Ron explained as his movements started to slow from his over exuberant greeting.

"Huh… alright."

"Oh you should continue to avoid Hermione for a while…" Ron quickly said.

"What why…?" Harry asked in surprise. 'I haven't seen her since this morning. What could I have done?'

"Tonks told her what you got for transfiguration… bloody photographic memory she has." Ron whistled appreciatively.

Harry was a little miffed as he had hoped to keep his marks hidden at least until Hermione asked him nicely. He reigned in his pout and queried…

"Well still why is she mad…? I think I did pretty well." Harry said. Outstanding at near hundred percent in total was quite the achievement if Harry said so himself.

"That's the thing… you did too well… how did you get 99 on the practical anyway?"

"Wait what do you mean too well?"

"You beat her mate… by a 4 percent… in her subject… she was practically fuming when she found out." Harry gawked at him in surprise. 'I beat Hermione …" Harry thought excitedly… he had never really beat Hermione grade wise for anything except defence and that had quickly lost its novelty after Hermione started an outright competition for…'I beat Hermione' Harry rethought in horror.

Ron patted him gently on the shoulder in a supportive nature.

"You're so doomed." He helpfully added.

:-..-..-..-..-:

Ron explained to Harry over a game of wizards chess after he had sufficiently regained the use of his mouth… the events of the day.

Fudge had apparently stormed the street the evening before, that held the two 7800 women who were creating balloons for the children, with the intent of arresting and Obliviating the people nearby.

It had not gone as he had planned as by 10:30pm he was back in a holding cell and all of London (excluding the purely magical sections) had suppressor fields activated. The entire island was one giant magical dead zone until further notice and it was guessed that if fudge was ever released he would face the Wizengamot and probably be in Azkaban for sheer incompetence. The order had assumed control… effectively making Dumbledore the minister of magic until the end of next week where the Wizengamot would re elect a new minister.

Surprisingly the Order was of two minds on this as it both made their job easier and disturbing.

Tonks had whispered to everyone that while making it practically impossible for Muggles to be attacked magically it also gave Voldemort ample opportunity to study the field, and perhaps find a way around it.

After explaining to Harry the major details Harry waved off another game. He was still a bit sore after all the exercise his body had been forced to endure that day. He decided to take a stroll to the hospital wing, before heading off to bed. He hoped they would be able to help him not hurt all over.

He walked down the empty corridors… while the tower was still active at night; it was a skeleton crew that actually worked the twilight hours. Healers… a couple scientists, and order guards, wandered the halls infrequently.

As he made his way to the emergency station at the corner of his floor he saw a large white sign posted along its glass walls.

Down for maintenance… please use portkey pad to Hospital floor for service

Harry wearily made his way to the portkey pad indicated and called out… "Main hospital wing"

The pad hummed into activation and quickly activated dragging him by his naval to the top floor.

Harry had to admit, standing on the portkey did help him not trip when he arrived but left him with an odd sense of motion sickness, he couldn't attribute to normal ones.

He arrived in a bright tan-grey linoleum corridor with glass walls and white chequered ceilings. Some of the walls were blackened to allow privacy for their occupants… some crystal clear allowing him an unimpeded view of the small room with a bed and artificial magical window that constantly displayed a cheery scene. Right now showing varying scenes of night as it was about 9:45.

"Harry …? Is everything all right dear?" Harry turned just in time to watch as Mrs. Weasley pulled out her wand and waved it around Harry in familiar motions he was used to seeing Madame Pomfrey perform. It was a little odd for Harry to consider The Weasley matriarch a certified healer… he honestly always pictured Mrs. Weasley a house wife who stayed at home all evening taking care of the kids and doing other stereotypical duties. He was glad Hermione or Mrs. Weasley couldn't hear his thoughts.

"Oh it's nothing really. I just got back from training and I was wondering if you had anything here to help my soreness."

Mrs Weasley immediately stiffened… "What kind of training was it?" she asked sternly. She had been informed of Harry's need to be trained and had voiced her objection to deaf ears.

Harry hesitantly told her that it was "Level 2" according to his taskmaster.

"Level 2…" she said sternly. Harry could see all kinds of disapproval waiting to unleash itself from her mouth but she held it in with a scowl and indicated for Harry to seat himself on what looked like a standard Muggle gurney placed on the side of the long corridor. The mattress even crinkled as he sat on its sterile surface.

She mumbled constantly about insane headmasters and impetuous foolish youth as she poked and prodded Harry with her wand and varying instruments Madame Pomfrey seemed to lack.

At the end of the thorough examination she placed a hand on a white paneled cupboard and unlocked whatever latches were present, before handing Harry a bottle full of liquid gel tablets.

"These are muscle relaxants and protein supplement potions… take four of these in the morning before you start and another 2 in the evening before you go to sleep. If you're going to take a hot shower or bath take the pills 5 minutes in to the shower or bath and stay in for 10 minutes longer. I've placed a temporary numbing field around your joints that will last till morning. Come to me if you get any nose bleeds or feel lethargic" She explained professionally. If Harry had any doubt left that she was really a healer, they had been dashed away at her skilled technique… Harry still had no clue what she was doing but he was suitably impressed.

"Alright dear you're ready to go… if you want to stop in and wish Neville a good night, I saw him over by the windows." She pointed down a corridor that ended in the same characteristic glass walls with large glass doors that separated the hall from what Harry could see was a wide open terrace.

Harry nodded his head not giving way to his surprise, and thanked the women before cautiously making his way over to the indicated area.

Harry soundlessly padded the lonely corridor to only stop in awkward and guilty surprise at the site he was seeing.

Out on the terrace, Neville was taking a large blanket and with the aid of another healer, wrapping it around a patient. The patient was a long slightly greying woman with a round face.

Harry watched as they seated the woman, who was now snugly wrapped in a pale blue blanket in a white lounge chair. The man patted Neville on the back and handed him the black box Neville had been hiding earlier in the morning.

As the man waved his goodbyes and headed toward the glass door Neville paled as he spotted Harry waiting on the other side.

"Oh… excuse me there young man" the Healer said jovially as he opened the door and held it open for Harry to enter.

Harry looked at the man blankly and walked in nodding his thanks mindlessly.

Harry and Neville stared at each other. One in embarrassment… the other in shamed guilt.

"Neville, I'm sorry… I didn't realize you were... that is to say… Mrs. Weasley just told me you were here and I ..." Harry stuttered trying to explain his voyeurism.

Neville continued to stare at Harry no longer pale in embarrassed shock but with a contemplative stare.

"Look I'm really sorry… I'll just be…"

"Did you know that our mums were roommates in Hogwarts."

Harry paused at the sudden information. He had never actually thought about his mother's social life as he had already met the marauders; he had just assumed that they had all gotten along.

"No I didn't"

"Neither did I… When me and Gran moved over here" Neville waved his hands along the walls indicating the citadel. "Professor Dumbledore said that he was willing to allow my parents a permanent home here as well." Neville explained to a silent Harry.

Harry for his part slowly walked closer to the mother and son pair. Listening in as Neville compulsively tucked in his quite semi conscious mother.

"The healer you just saw was actually my mums' first boyfriend" Neville laughed a little bitterly as he raised his black Box onto a small little side table.

Harry watched as Neville turned left and reached for a black gym bag that lay limply on the floor.

"He told me that when he and mum were dating… your mum and mine were the best of friends. Lilly Evans, the shy quiet girl who was slightly adventurous when the moment called for it; and Alice McKinnon the loud passionate women with a fiery temper and a penitent for breaking the rules." Neville said in wonder.

Harry was equally surprised by the description as it seemed to match him when he first started Hogwarts. Although clashed spectacularly with Neville.

For some reason… maybe because of the pensieve memory he had witnessed, he assumed his mum would be the one with the fiery temper. 'I guess people change…' Harry thought reasonably as he continued to stare at Neville in hunger. He was learning something about his parents now… something new not coloured by the emotions of a mourning friend or loved one…

"Mr Greyson took some time each evening to tell me about my mom… I've been sneaking out once you and Ron went to bed and hung around here." Neville explained without guilt.

"No matter how busy they were… Friday nights were always Lily and Alice nights. They had a Ritual they would perform each and every Friday."

Neville reached into his black bag and pulled out two colourful thin square sheets. They were Vinyl record envelopes… one was burned from one end severely, and bent in a 40 degree angle while the other was perfectly fine…

Harry recognized them as the same Vinyl record… specifically the same album he had bought for Neville the day before.

"I found this in the ruins of our old home… it became derelict once they were attacked and I went to live with Gran." Neville motioned to the damaged record.

"Mr. Greyson said that this was their record. Every evening since third year they would try to make it in time to watch the sunset together on Fridays while playing this record."

"They failed miserably each and every time…" Neville laughed. Harry couldn't help a sad chuckle as well, as he imagined for 4 years the two consistently missing the opportunity.

"But they always played the record anyway and just watched the night sky in blankets."

Neville opened the black polished box revealing a compacted vinyl record player.

"It's silly and all…" Neville stuttered a little embarrassed.

"No!" Harry said firmly affectively destroying any doubts Neville had about Harry understanding what he was doing. Neville paused and nodded resolutely.

"I found this picture in one of mum's old albums… I never knew what it was about until I met Mr. Greyson… I'll make you a copy if you want." Neville handed Harry a slightly crinkled wizarding picture.

It was of the Gryffindor Common room. It was faded and tinted orange but clearly showed the two comfy chairs Harry had frequently sat in by the fire… moved over by the tall arched windows. One of the chairs had a 5 foot pretty witch with a round face excitedly motion towards Harry, motioning him to get over to her. She was clad in an overly large shirt and pyjama pants as she excitedly kneeled on the cushions of the sofa, bouncing up and down in excited glee. From the left of the picture, a bright eyed little girl's face replaced the entire screen as she appeared to be adjusting the camera and then quickly ran and leapt onto her friend. The new girl with a shoulder length ponytail that bounced about as she and her friend fought for superiority and then smiled laughingly, simultaneously and suddenly, towards the camera a second before a bright flash occurred. And then the girls continued to fight joyously, ignoring the staring boys watching the pair from the real world.

Harry tore his eyes from the picture and asked Neville quietly but with a sense of desperation to make him a copy.

Neville nodded and motioned for Harry to pull up a lounge chair and handed him a blanket…

Harry was half tempted to refuse as this seemed like a private moment but kept his mouth shut as he accepted the blanket and watched as Neville pulled out the new record gently and placed it on the record player… he started the player spinning and with one last look at his mum… put the needle on a random spot, on the record.

Harry and Neville dosed off later in the night with Alice Longbottom sitting between her son and the picture of happier times. Listening to a story of waterloo sunsets with blank unfocused eyes.

Neither boy would ever know that Alice Longbottom had smoothed the hair out of her forgotten sons' eyes as he slept but Neville Longbottom would privately claim this one of the best night's sleep he would ever remember.


AN: Well there you go…. A little insight into the private life of Neville Longbottom. This chapter was never actually planned for my story but it seemed like a natural extension. I had mentioned in my outline Neville's behaviour as a little concept Idea to help me understand the character I was building but decided to write about it instead.

This chapter is a little small but seemed to wrap up some loose ends quite nicely. I hope because of the end this isn't considered a song fic. I just had it listed under my profile for the characters that the favourite song and band of Alice and Lilly was Waterloo sunset by the Kinks. Check YouTube for a video if you want to see an old music video of it.

Next chapter were back on track and Harry's finally heading to Hogwarts. Expect Harry to finally get some things explained to him and some interaction between him and the girls… I had planned Luna to make an appearance for this chapter but it just seemed forced.

Now the big question… what antics do you think the sorting hat will pull this year. Not really so big but it's something.

Till later… Quazi