A/N: And here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I thought it was time to remind everyone that I do not own Harry Potter or Twilight. As much as I would like to, someone else beat me to it. Darn it.


Chapter Twelve

Looking around the halls of her home, Minerva found that she was pleased. Other than a few scars the ancient castle was again ready for students. You would never know that a battle had been held here. The wards were fully functioning and stronger than they had ever been. The armor that had been damaged had either been repaired or replaced. The staircases were moving again. And as long as she was headmistress, nothing like that would ever happen again.

She was quietly excited that the students would soon be on their way back. She felt the castle was happiest when filled with chattering, laughing children. Not all of her colleagues felt that way, most notably Severus, but she felt the potions master protested too much. After all, there was no reason for him to be here anymore and yet he had decided to stay.

Not only was the school moving forward but one of her favorite students seemed to be as well. Poppy had told her just this morning that she'd heard from Harry and he sounded like he was doing well. The boy, well young man now, had even seen fit to write to Severus. And true to form, when it came to Harry at least, he snarked about it before going out and buying an owl. Having known the man most of his life Severus could do very little that surprised her.

When Trinity had arrived Minerva had hoped that Harry would take to her. From what she remembered of Miss Nagero the girl didn't know how to take no for an answer. She had a way of getting what she wanted without being overbearing about it. Harry needed someone like that in his life at the moment. She was happy that the two of them were seeming to get along. And Miss Nagero wasn't the type to allow herself to be pushed away.

That was something that severely disappointed her about Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, the entire Weasley family for that matter. How could Hermione and Ronald allow Harry to keep them away? They hadn't asked after Harry in months. Not that she could tell them anything new but that was beside the point. Mr. Longbottom continued to pester them about Harry. His concern for his friend was palpable and admirable. Why was it that Harry's two closest friends didn't show the same level of concern?

Minerva continued on to her office trying to run everything that still had to be done through her mind. The problem was her mind wouldn't stay where she put it. Severus hadn't said much of anything about having a daughter of his own. She wished the stubborn man would speak about it. Having a family was something that had been denied him and he had accepted that. Now he found out that he had a grown child. That couldn't be easy. Of course Severus had never been one to complain about the truly hard things. Everyday nuisances were easy for him to fuss about but the things that truly mattered he kept close to the vest.

Upon entering her office she was quite unsurprised to find Neville sitting patiently in one of the straight-backed chairs in front of her desk. He came to his feet and offered a polite smile, "Good morning Professor."

"Good morning Mr. Longbottom," Minerva walked around her desk and took her seat, "What brings you here today?"

Neville returned to his seat once he was sure she was seated. His grandmother had certainly instilled some wonderful manners in the boy. "I've come to ask after Harry. I tried getting into his house to see if he was allowing visitors and it's been completely disconnected from the floo network. Usually the floo will activate but I can't get through but now it won't even activate. I'm worried, even more so than usual."

Minerva sighed softly. "Kreacher must have sealed it off when they left."

Neville frowned, "Harry left? Where did he go?"

"That I do not know," Minerva told him gently, "I haven't heard from him personally but he has written to Madam Pomfrey. She says that he sounds in good spirits."

"But why would he leave? Is he even in the condition to be wandering off Merlin knows where?"

"His reasons are not mine to share I'm afraid but I can assure you he is in no danger," Minerva reassured her former student, "I think he's starting to heal. He did ask about his friends in the letter he sent to Poppy. Maybe he'll be ready to speak to you soon."

Neville nodded with solemn acceptance. "I hope so. I miss him and I'm worried about him."

"Have you spoken to Ronald or Hermione?" Minerva asked after a moment.

"Last week," Neville answered shifting in the uncomfortable chair, "They didn't say anything about Harry. Not even in passing. They haven't talked about him for a while now. I always thought they would be more concerned than I am. Shouldn't they be?"

"Yes, I believe they should," Minerva sat back in her chair, "I will tell you the moment Harry wants to talk to you."

"Thank you. That's all I can ask," Neville stood and moved to the fireplace, "Though I'm sure I'll speak to you again before then."

"I'm sure you will," Minerva gave the young man a gentle smile, "Have a good day Mr. Longbottom."

"Good day Professor," he said with a tight smile before using the floo to head home.

After he was gone Minerva pursed her lips. What in Merlin's name was wrong with Ronald and Hermione? And what, if anything, was she going to do about it?

She would think on it later. Right now she needed to finish preparing for the new school year. There was still much to do. And maybe she would write her own letter to Harry.

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Neville Longbottom was a quietly brave young wizard. He'd spent the majority of his childhood in the background being ignored. He'd always had very few friends and hadn't been bothered by that because the friends he did have were the truest of friends. And Harry had always been a true friend to him. Seeing the strength and determination that the other boy had, had helped Neville find his voice and his own strength.

It had started in his very first year at Hogwarts, even if he hadn't noticed at the time. Standing up to his friends had helped him find a way to stand up for himself. Once he could stand up for himself he had no trouble standing up for others. Going against the Carrows to protect the other students had been dangerous but that hadn't stopped him. Standing up to Voldemort had been the most terrifying thing he'd ever done in his life.

After that stepping in as head of his family had been easy. Apparently his grandmother had simply been waiting for him to be ready. He wasn't even nineteen yet but he had so many people counting on him. Between his family name and his status as a war hero he had political clout to wield. There were businesses he had to run and alliances he had to forge. And he was studying for his mastery in herbology to boot. At eighteen he was a very busy man.

But he still made time to check on Harry in the only way available to him. Going to Hogwarts as often as possible to speak to the only people who knew how Harry was doing. Even braving the dungeons on five occasions to speak to Snape. Which was only slightly less terrifying than telling Voldemort to kiss his ass.

He couldn't understand why Ron and Hermione weren't doing the same. Those two were much closer to Harry than anyone else had ever hoped to be. Why weren't they beating down the door and driving the professors mad demanding information on their best friend? It was baffling and Neville was going to find out what was going on.

With no hesitation Neville apparated to The Burrow. He landed just outside of the wards. He looked up at the crooked house, eyes slightly narrowed with determination, before striding up the gentle slope of the overgrown yard. He couldn't quite manage to look friendly but he did manage not to look like he was going to battle.

Neville knocked sharply on the door and schooled his features while he waited. It would do him no good to get anyone's back up before he even started. After all, he was hoping that there was a reasonable explanation for why Ron and Hermione had seemingly forgotten about Harry. Maybe they were gravely ill? Or grievously injured?

Ron opened the door after only a few moments. He blinked in surprise at Neville before offering a smile, "Hi Neville, what brings you here?"

"Hey Ron," Neville returned his smile with a small one of his own, "Can I come in?"

"Sure." Ron moved out of the doorway and Neville stepped inside.

Neville looked around at the cluttered, homey kitchen and could instantly see what Harry loved about the place. It was nothing like the austere home Neville had grown up in. Nor was it like the sterile, oppressive house Harry had grown up in. Love practically saturated the air. Everything was clean but cleanliness obviously wasn't an obsession like it had been for Neville and Harry. Where Harry had never been loved and love in the Longbottom household was only distantly felt, the Weasley's were effusive in their love for one another.

Molly was puttering around the kitchen, looking nothing like the fierce warrior who had killed Voldemort's most vicious lieutenant. He could see Arthur relaxing in the sitting room. He could hear Hermione and Ginny talking somewhere just out of sight. Neville knew that Bill and his wife were at their home on the coast and that Charlie had returned to Romania. He assumed that the twins were at their shop in Diagon Alley, though they were keeping unusually quiet of late. There was a small shrine to Percy on the mantle, the man having sacrificed himself to protect Fred in the last battle.

Turning his attention back to Ron, he said, "I was hoping to speak to you and Hermione, if it's not too much trouble."

Looking confused, Ron shrugged his shoulders, "Of course. Hermione's out in the back garden with Ginny." Ron turned away to lead the way through the kitchen.

Neville followed quietly, offering a smile to Molly as they passed her. She returned it even though he could see concern in her eyes. He didn't want the woman to fret and he hoped he hadn't given her the impression that there was something terribly wrong. That was never his intention. He would have to apologize for worrying her later.

The back garden was a wild tangle that made his plant loving heart ache just a little. It would be beautiful if someone would just take the time to tend it. Maybe now that the war was over and most of her children were out of the house Molly would have the time to bring it back to its former glory. Or maybe she liked it this way. He had to suppress a shudder at that thought.

Hermione was sitting in a chair next to Ginny and the two were talking about nothing important as far as he could tell. Both witches looked up when they spotted the two of them. Hermione smiled brightly at the sight of him. Ginny's smile was barely there. After she left Harry because of his injuries, Neville had been much cooler to the younger girl.

"Hi Neville," Hermione pretended not to notice the tension between him and Ginny. That was something else that bothered him. How could she still be friends with Ginny after what she had done?

"Hello Hermione," Neville completely ignored Ginny, "I wanted to talk to you and Ron about Harry."

Ginny quickly excused herself at this and Neville was happy to be out of her presence. Hermione's smile faltered at the other girl's hurried exit. "Has something happened to Harry?" she asked after a moment.

"I went to Hogwarts today to find out how he was," Neville moved to take Ginny's seat, "While I was speaking to Professor McGonagall she mentioned that the two of you hadn't been by to see about him in months. I was wondering why. Even Draco had voiced more concern than the two of you by all accounts."

Her smile fell from her face faster than he could blink. "We've been busy, what with dealing with losing Percy and traveling to Australia to collect my parents."

"Harry made it clear that he wanted to be left alone," Ron piped up from his position at Hermione's side.

"You've been busy? That's the best you can come up with?" Neville was seething, "I've been busy. I haven't had a chance to breathe since the war ended but that hasn't stopped me from regularly checking up on Harry. Madam Pomfrey and Snape have both gained entry to Harry's home. Even if you couldn't visit him personally, you could have asked after him. You haven't even taken a moment to write a letter."

Hermione shifted uncomfortably and looked away from him. Ron tensed, his temper trying to get the better of him. "He's shut himself away to sulk," the ginger's voice was tight, "We simply decided to wait until he was done pouting."

Contrary to popular belief, Neville did have a temper of his own. He was just better at controlling it, having grown up with a woman who believed showing emotion was unseemly. And Ron was very close to unleashing that temper. "You believe Harry is simply sulking?" he had to grip the arm of the chair he was sitting in to keep from shouting.

Hermione, despite being the brightest witch of her age, failed to notice the danger. "What else could he be doing? Honestly, the end of a relationship is not a reason to hide away from his friends. He'll get over it soon."

"Harry's always let his feelings run his life. He'll sulk for a bit longer and then everything will be fine," Ron said matter-of-factly.

Neville glared at the two of them knowing that if looks could kill these two would have been long in the grave. "You think Harry has been sulking for the better part of a year because of a simple break up?" his voice tightened as he fought to hols in his temper, "How can the two of you call yourselves his best friends if that is what you believe?"

Ron scoffed, "It's because we're his best friends that we know what's going on with him. What makes you think you know better?"

"Really Neville, Harry is just having a fit of temper and everything will be fine," Hermione soothed, having finally noticed Neville's mood.

"You two are the biggest bloody fools on the face of the earth," Neville bit out as he got to his feet, "How the hell the two of you managed to convince Harry that you are his friends is beyond me."

"Excuse me?" Hermione looked deeply offended.

Ron glared at him, "We are his friends despite what you may think. We know him a hell of a lot better than you."

And Neville lost his hold on his temper. "YOU KNOW NOTHING! HARRY WAS SO BADLY INJURED THAT MAGIC CAN'T HELP HIM. HE WILL NEVER WALK PROPERLY AGAIN AND WILL CARRY SCARS FOREVER! HE LOST HIS PARENTS AND HIS GODFATHER! HE HAD TO WATCH A FRIEND DIE! HE HAD TO WALK TO HIS DEATH AND THEN HE HAD TO KILL A MAN! HE'S BEEN JERKED AROUD BY THE PUBLIC ALL OF HIS LIFE! AND NOW THE PRESS ARE NEVER GOING TO LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Neville paced while he shouted.

Molly, Arthur, and Ginny all rushed out of the house. The elder Weasley's looking like they wanted to step in but not being foolish enough to try. Ron and Hermione were looking at Neville with wide, somewhat frightened eyes. They didn't know how to handle him like this. The mousy boy they had always known all but gone at the moment.

"AS FOR THE BREAK UP WITH GINNY, SHE DUMPED HIM BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T STAND TO LOOK AT HIM ANYMORE. NOT BECAUSE HE KILLED VOLDEMORT. OH NO! HIS SCARS TURNED HER STOMACH SO SHE DUMPED HIM WHILE HE WAS STILL IN HOSPITAL!"

Molly and Arthur gasped and turned to look at their only daughter. Ginny was deathly pale. She had used Harry's withdrawal from the world to tell a different story. One of a mutual break up where the two of them had decided they simply weren't suited. How did Neville know what had happened between her and Harry?

"Hey!" Ron shouted when Neville paused to take a breath, "I don't know where you're getting this crap from but that is not what happened!"

Neville snorted, "I was in the bed next to Harry with the curtains drawn when she came in. We were the last two in the hospital wing, waiting to be sent to St. Mungo's. Ginny came in and calmly told Harry that she couldn't be with someone who looked like him. Looking at him made her sick. She had to look at Bill because he was her brother but she didn't have to look at Harry and she wasn't going to. After she left Harry was crying so hard about everything that he had to be sedated before he tore open his wounds. I don't know what lies she's been spinning but I would be more than happy to offer up the memory if you don't believe me."

Hermione turned to look at her first female friend, "Ginny?"

Ginny made a noise of distress before running back into the house. Neville shook his head. "Harry has been suffering on his own for nearly a year. He is in constant pain with a mad elf as his only caretaker. A man who hates Harry simply for existing has shown more concern for him than his best friends and the people who have always claimed to see him as a son," they could hear the disgust for them in his every word, "I had hoped that you would have a better reason than being busy. I have never been so disappointed in my life." Neville turned to leave.

Hermione's shaking voice stopped him, "How can we fix this?"

With a hollow laugh, Neville looked over his shoulder at them, "I don't think you can."

"Why not?" Arthur asked quietly.

"Grimmauld Place is sealed. Harry has left Britain. No one knows where he's gone and I doubt he'll be returning anytime soon. If he ever does."

With that Neville strode out of the garden. Ron called after him but he ignored the idiot. As soon as he was past the wards, Neville apparated away. He couldn't deal with Harry's so-called friends anymore.

Hermione and Molly were in tears. The Weasley men were in a state of shock. Neville had torn into them with brutal efficiency. He had brought their mistakes to light and the guilt was crushing. How had none of them thought to see how badly Harry was hurting? And now that he was gone what were they going to do?