Hey everyone, here's the next chapter!
I just want to warn all of you that this again will mostly be me winging it where I can and just letting my fingers do the talking as – other than the little thing I wrote about last Bottom AN – I have ABSOLUTELY nothing to write about, even though this was a story I had great hopes for when I started it.
Oh well, enjoy,

Venquine1990

Chapter 14
His way

Neville's POV

I have never felt so exhilarated, alive and proud of myself as I do right now while following Harry and his gang as they make their way to their new rooms and while I stay close enough I can hear their conversations, do I stay far away enough that the group doesn't take notice of me as I want to give them a chance for themselves.
Yet when they enter their rooms, am I glad for my certain amount of distance as I was able to lip-read Harry's new password and a few minutes after he has entered, do I answer the password myself, entering at the Maiden and not the Knights as I'm sure Harry will be a little more accepting to me having followed him.
I am, naturally, proven correct as Harry seems shocked to see me, but the shock is quickly replaced with happiness and he asks: "Wondering about my loyalty to Sirius?" And while I can't help but wonder how much of what Harry spoke of regarding the man is true, do I shake my head and while Harry is confused, do I say:
"Got sick of those students and their need for gossip. Tried making sure it wouldn't go out of proportions by reminding them about the last four years. Didn't exactly end the way I planned, but I'm pretty sure I got the message through to their thick skulls. Finally." I end in exasperation as Harry and Sirius laugh at me.

Then the mates arrive and Daphne is the first to notice me as she asks: "Neville, how long have you been here?" And I answer: "It's easy to get all the required information if you know how to stick to the shadows. Just a shame not everyone not in the shadows is always willing to listen to said information, but so be it."
The girl nods and then the sturdy man – who I found out is named Terra – asks: "So, care to tell us your side of the story? What we heard from Madame Rosmerta doesn't exactly speak profit about you, you know." And he crosses his arms, seemingly ignoring the angry glare Harry sends him, as he looks at Sirius with a stern gaze.
Sirius, however, seems not at all impressed with the stare and asks: "That your best 'tell me now or die' look? I've seen a whole lot better on the faces of my friends and I haven't seen those since I was a teenager." This seems to catch the sturdy man off guard, while Harry smirks, obviously pleased that his mate got his comeuppance.

The whole group then moves themselves back to the common room of the other portrait and when we are all seated, does Harry ask: "So, how bad were those grapevine lovers?" And I roll my eyes, preferring not to think back to that little problem, but knowing Harry – as my friend and king – deserves the truth and so I say:
"Let me answer that with a simple report on the worst part of when I talked sense into them. They didn't even remember that two things happened on Halloween when you became Boy-Who-Lived. All they remembered was your defeat of Voldemort, that your parents had died in that event didn't even seem to matter to them."
This shocks everyone and Sirius asks: "That's a joke, right?" But I shake my head and while some of the members, particularly Terra, look at Sirius with the same stern gaze as before, do I say: "I wish to Merlin himself that it was, Sirius. I even questioned them on the night and asked them what happened that night.
I told them about Voldemort's defeat and Harry's fame and then asked what other thing happened and made sure to exclude people like Ron and Hermione. The most infuriating of it all, when I asked that, I actually heard people ask each other and I quote: nothing else happened, did it and what else could have happened?"
By now new rage is boiling under my skin and I am almost hissing out these words as I can still vividly remember how clueless and stupid the students that asked these things looked, something that – because some of them were elder years – makes me again feel shame of my own placement in this House and School.

"So you told them everything?" Harry asks, while he seems to be holding Sirius back by having a strong hold on the man's hand and I nod and say: "Everything, from the visits to the Hospital Wing in first, to how you feel about their behavior to you and what you have always actually wanted, you know, be a normal student and all."
This makes Harry smile and he says: "Thanks Neville, but I think being normal is a little impossible now." This makes me tilt my head as Harry had been wishing to be normal for as long as I can remember and he asks: "Eight mates and a Royal Heritage? Makes being normal a little impossible, don't you think?"
At this I can't help but laugh, even while I am almost certain that, deep down inside, Harry is bumped beyond words that his dreams are again smashed by something he just can't control, just like it has been happening since he first stepped foot into the magical world and got his first taste of the Boy-Who-Lived fame and glory.
I then look around yet again and think: "Maybe, somehow, these people can change that around. Maybe they can give Harry some form of normalcy. Maybe –." And then an idea pops into my mind and I shout: "HARRY, I GOT IT!" Shocking everyone around me and making some of the mates actually fall off their seats.

"Got it? Got what?" The young man named Ventus asks as he gets back up on his seat, rubbing the back of his head while I'm pretty sure he isn't hurt at all and I say: "A way to get everything you ever wanted. Retire!" Everyone looks shocked and Harry almost stutters as he asks me: "Retire? Retire from what?"
But I shake my head as Harry is clearly too shocked by my sudden outburst to be on the same line as me, as he often is when we have our own little alone time to make sure Harry can recuperate and again go out to handle the pressure of all the students outside his own bed and dorm and then I continue my line of thought and say:
"You misunderstand me. I meant to say you should see this whole royal thing as a job, just like there are Aurors, Healers and teachers. Everyone of those retire one day and move away from where they used to work, it's just something we wizards do. You should do the same once you feel sure you have led a good kingdom."

Harry looks shocked and I raise my fists in excitement at him as I say: "Don't you see? If you see this whole royalty as just another job, you can feel a little more as if you're normal, like the rest of us and it will make it easier for you to give off the throne to your Heir once he gets off age or when you get old enough to step down.
Don't you see, it's the perfect plan!" I end in pure excitement and Harry's eyes are wide as he hears me out, but then Lea says: "I got to admit, the kid knows how to think ahead." A smile visible on his face while his eyes are closed and his arms are crossed over his chest, the smile proving how proud he is of me for thinking this through.
The others all look at each other and then Ventus goes on: "It really does sound good, but –." And we all look at him as he says: "I think I have a better idea." This shocks me as I didn't think there could be anything better than what I just thought of and Terra says: "I think I know what you're planning, Ven, but I slightly disagree."
This seems to shock Ventus and Terra says: "If your train of thought is the same as mine, then both plans are equally good and we should just let Harry decide. Both plans concern his role as King after all and we have yet to decide who will rule by his side. It's his kingdom in the end, so he should make the choice between plans."

Ventus nods, the smile on his face showing how relieved he is that Terra still thinks his plans as good as mine and then Sirius says: "Well, out with it. What's the other plan?" But while Ventus and Terra send stern glares at the man, does Aqua roll her eyes at the two and she says: "Where we come from – we are the only residents of that world."
This shocks Sirius, Harry and myself and Ventus says: "We used to live there together with our Master, Master Eraqus, but we also had an enemy that has been controlling and damaging the lives of many worlds for the last twelve years – not counting last year – and he was able to manipulate us in taking down our own master."
At this the woman and Ventus look at Terra, who suddenly has his head down, his hands tied into fists on his knees and self-hate showing in his eyes. Harry seems to react to this the best as he walks over and softly grabs Terra's hands, his fingers massaging the tied-up fists until the anger disappears out of the strangle hold and the hands open up.
While this happens, does Harry keep eye-contact with Terra the entire time and just by that one look, that one look of Harry somehow understanding Terra's pain, can I see the anger and self-hate vanish out of the man's eyes, only for tears of pain and gratitude to appear and slowly, unnoticed by Terra himself, fall down his cheeks.
Harry then releases one of the hands and softly catches one of the tears, closing his eyes and actually kissing the finger on which he caught the tear, before he smiles at Terra one last time and takes his seat again. But when Sirius wraps a proud arm around him, do I see Harry shake his head lightly and do I realize something.

Harry was working on his inner Potter instincts. He had indeed, at first, wanted to comfort his mate, but must not have known how to and must have just let his inner Instincts taken control, which in turn brought out the Submissive in what I am sure is his Neutral Potter Nature, thus guiding him to perform the acts that he did.
Hoping Terra hadn't noticed this sudden awakening from his own instincts of Harry, do I just see the man smiling at Ventus and Aqua, the peace that now shines in the man's eyes proving to me that the man seems to have found peace with what this enemy of his manipulated him into doing somewhere during these years of battle.
Then Sirius coughs and says: "So ehem, the plan?" And Aqua nods as she says: "Ven's plan is real simple. Have Lea and the others make several corridors of Darkness to The Land of Departure and send the Magical World there, to live under your ruling. It will bring people to our world and a castle to you, Harry."

I personally can't believe what I'm hearing and I ask: "Are you CRAZY? There are new Muggleborns born every year! What will happen to them if we send everyone from the Magical world to another world? I'll tell you what! they'll be discovered and it'll be a massacre just like all other Witch Hunts of the last four centuries!"
Everyone looks shocked and I say: "Every single witch hunt in the last four-hundred years was because the Magical World had shed itself too far away from the Muggle world for the Muggleborns to be easily reachable. That made them rely more on their Muggle side of life and that made us be discovered every time again."
At this the group cringes and I say: "If you want to move the Magical World away, do it so that Muggleborns don't become the victims of that move as every time in the last four centuries, the witch hunts started with newborn Muggleborns." And Ventus nods as he says: "Okay, never mind. He's right, bad idea."

But then Even says: "It doesn't have to be." Everyone looks at him as he has a confident smirk on his face and says: "Ienzo, am I right to believe you can grow a field of illusions strong enough you can sense out when others perform magic?" And from the blonde does everyone look at the teenager with the blue hair who nods and says:
"Yes, Even, you are indeed right." This makes the smile on Even's face grow and he says: "That is wonderful. Then all we need to do is have a field of Ienzo's illusions." But again I shake my head, interrupting the man's speech and I say: "There are at least seven Half-blood families living in every town and city across our country.
You'd be picking up so much of their magic, you wouldn't be able to discern it from newborn Muggleborn magic." And the two sigh as they again have to give me right before I say: "I do, however, think we can combine the two ideas." Everyone looks at me surprised and I smile as I continue and say:

"Our world's Ministry is underground, at least a few dozen feet underground, and the Minister won't be willing to give up his seat very easily, no matter the law, the Ancient Rules, the Promise between Lancelot and Arthur or the Royal heritage. However, we can let Fudge agree to co-rule alongside a fair king – while he stays in office."
Everyone looks at me in intrigue and I say: "Let all of us – or at least all of you – move to this new world, this Land of Departure, and put what you call this Corridor of Darkness in the main room and then connect it to Fudge's office, perhaps with an extra one connected to the Conference room of the Wizengamot.
Fudge can then be the one to bring out all plans and laws Harry wants to instate and can be the one to make sure they are followed and that Harry is followed as King, while staying in office and having a say over the Magical world himself as Minister. He and Harry will be partners, while your world will have new people living in it."

Everyone looks shocked and I say: "Just make sure Harry has somewhere else to go once he no longer needs a proper castle as he will, naturally, step down one day. Let him have a secondary home somewhere, a place he can go to live with all you guys once a new king has come to take the throne from his father."
At this everyone smiles and then Ventus asks: "How did you know we lived in a castle?" But I shrug and say: "Why else would you suggest the place to be where Harry would rule. No king can live without a castle, right?" And while everyone laughs at my easy logic, does Harry look at me in gratitude and say:
"I don't care where I'll rule, Neville, as long as we can – in any way or form – take Hogwarts alongside us. I don't want to rule England if my people don't have Hogwarts to send their kids to. Too many adults have good memories of the place and I want to keep that tradition going, no matter what happened to me here."
This makes me sigh as I had expected no less from my best friend and Lea asks: "You want us to move an entire castle? That might be a problem." But here Ienzo shakes his head and says: "The wards of this place are easy to manipulate and surround the entire school from the highest roof all the way to the Dungeons.
I can simply use those to transport the castle wherever I want, just have to make sure there is enough space for the lands surrounding the castle, is all." And we all smile at the man, all of us happy with the plan and how more and more hurdles are being overcome. Then I look at Sirius and ask: "So, why are you someone Harry trusts?"

Sirius' POV

I don't really know what Harry means when he says what happened to me here, but Neville's idea coming to life and its hurdles being overcome takes my mind off of the words for a while and then his question of why Harry trusts me throws me completely off course, so much I actually burst out laughing in pure shock.
Everyone looks at me with a raised eyebrow and I sweatdrop a little as I say: "Oh come one, you can't say that question didn't throw you off guard as well." The others snicker and Terra crosses his arms again as he says: "No we can, because we have been waiting for you to explain that for ourselves the entire time."
And I feel another drop of sweat running down my sleep as I realize that's pretty much the whole reason we all gathered here in the first place, before I sigh and say: "Okay, you want the truth?" And everyone nods, while Harry again goes and grabs my hand, proving to me yet again how much trust and care he has in his heart for me.

Smiling at the little boy I have, for so long, considered my own, do I look at those he will be spending the rest of his life with, knowing I have to convince them to trust me and say: "Harry trusts me, because he – unlike the rest of our world, including the one you heard the tale from – got the chance to hear my side of the story."
This shocks everyone of them, especially those that are still doubtful of me, no matter how angry this seems to make Harry every time they stare or glare at me sternly and I say: "Yes, I was there when James and Lily were murdered and yes, I was there when the Muggles and Pettigrew were murdered, however –."
At this I sigh as even that one meeting in the Shack and all the meetings with Harry, where the boy constantly proves to me how much he trusts and cares for me, have yet to fully take away the guilt that was pushed on me and intensified by my years in Azkaban and while I try not to relent to those feelings, do I say:

"I was never the one who caused either of the events. I planned to make the opposite happen and my own plans were used against me. That is the only way in which I am guilty of what happened. Because my own plans, which I had thought of to protect my best friend and godson, were used against me when they were in their prime."
Everyone looks shocked and I say: "You all heard the tale of Salazar Slytherin and Peter Pettigrew. And you all know that he has someone with the same name living in this time era. And finally was that Second Peter Pettigrew – one of James's best of friends, just like I was." And instantly everyone seems to understand and Aerith says:
"Pettigrew betrayed the Potters and murdered the Muggles, just like his namesake did to Salazar Slytherin a thousand years ago." I nod and then Terra asks: "But then why does everyone believe you to have killed that rat?" And I laugh, pure and simply because of that last word, something that makes everyone bar Harry look at me.

"He laughs because of your choice of words, Terra. Peter Pettigrew, this one at least, was a Rat Animagus. And that Animagus form – like Sirius used his dog form to stay sane in prison – is what Pettigrew used to make everyone believe Sirius slaughtered him while he escaped the actual scene of the crime."
Harry then tells us and I feel shocked, before some memories of the last few years resurface and I turn to Sirius as I shout: "So that's why you escaped!" Everyone looks at me, Sirius having stopped laughing to do so and I say: "You recognized Pettigrew. In the newspaper, I mean. He was in the newspaper on the same time as –."
And while I suddenly feel sick as I realize I actually shared a dorm room with the murderer of a bunch of Muggles and my best friend's parents, does Sirius nod, the same stern looks on his face as there were previously on the face of Terra and he says: "On the same time the Weasleys got into the newspaper, exactly Neville."
This makes me turn white, as the almost icy tone of hatred that sounds through Sirius' voice is enough to chill anyone's blood and Harry's hand – which is still holding Sirius' – squeezes the man's hand, making the man look at him before he sends me an apologetic glance and Harry then turns to me and continues explaining:

"Sirius actually caught up with Pettigrew, Neville, the day he was supposedly caught and escaped. Pettigrew was supposed to come with all of us that night, but it was full moon and well – I think you can guess what happened." And while I cringe at the idea of Lupin changing like that, do I indeed nod in understanding.
But then Ventus pushes his body forward and says: "He might, but we don't. What happened?" But Harry shakes his head and says: "I have honor, Ventus, and my honor prevents me from revealing secrets that are not my own." The boy looks lost and hurt, but nods in understanding either way and then Sirius smiles and says:
"Don't worry, the person we're talking about is a friend of mine. You'll meet with him soon enough." He then looks at the portrait hole and laughs as he says: "To be honest, I'm surprised he hasn't come barging in to bring me back to London yet." And Harry laughs, while I wonder where in London the man could have been hiding.

Terra's POV

That man might try to make jokes and laugh all he want, but I can tell that the guilt he feels over his plans having gone wrong are still affecting him, just like the manipulation of Master Xehanort, even a year after the man's defeat, still affects me and I keep my stern gaze on the man, while the rest laugh at the man's comments.
"He and I might be of use to each other. Maybe that's why it was so important for me to find out his side of the story. Why I felt so in need of hearing why Harry trusts a man like him." Goes through my mind and while my eyes fly over my destined mate for a second, do they revolve back to Sirius only a few seconds later.
The man seems aware of my need to keep looking at him and I feel quite impressed at how well he hides the discomfort he must feel at having my gaze on him all this time, yet I can't help but hope that – in due time – he and I can have a private meeting, just the two of us, where we can help each other ease our senses of guilt.

Then I look at the ones I have – for the last year – been in love with and think: "They too had their reasons for wanting to know the truth. Ven's reasons are easy, he must still remember what it was like to find out Master Eraqus had been hiding the truth from him and Aqua's must have been because she has such a caring heart."
I then rake my eyes over my other mates, knowing that Aerith and Aqua share the same reasons for wanting to know the truth, that Even just wants to learn more as that is just how the studious blonde genius really is and that Ienzo still has a curious teenage streak inside him, while Lea is probably just protective of Harry.
Feeling proud of the amazing diversity of reasons, do I turn to the one person who's reasons I can't phantom and I think: "Could it be because she grew up hearing the stories Sirius told us about? The stories Madam Rosmerta shared with us last night? Could she have known there was a lack of the other side of the story?"
And while I look at Daphne Greengrass, someone who seems to only break through her own mask of disinterest when she reacts to Harry's comments or behavior, can I not help but wonder what happened to the blonde beauty to make her think she actually needs such an emotional mask at the tender age of sixteen.

I then let my eyes rake over the gang one last time and think: "Lea might be the first Destined mate for Harry, the one chosen by the Potter Curse and thus destined for Harry's Potter legacy, but I'm to be the Alpha partner of this family. Just like Simba is the Head of the Lion pride, I am to be leader of this Destined pack of Mates."
And with that and the growing need to learn as much as I can about each and every one of these people, both for the sake of our bond and to help protect them, care for them and lead them where needed, do I wonder whether or not I was chosen as Harry's Pendragon mate, but shove that thought aside, finding it unimportant.
Then I look back at the person who is meant for all of us and while I can't help but wonder how one little fifteen year old boy can be meant for so many people – not to mention how he could plan to keep us all feeling loved and valuable – do I know I will do everything I have in my power to make sure he can live his life his way.

And there I end it!
WOW! That was so amazing! Especially the Terra part I had totally not intended that when I started this chapter. I just wanted to have Neville join the group, have Sirius explain and have some plans made to unite Harry with the KH world. I just threw the moving plan aside because that's already in Keyblade's Light.
Okay, onto other things. YES, Terra will be like the Alpha male of the group and because Harry is a Neutral, will be lead the gang where needed, even if Harry will have a final say in case it involves England or his role as Arthur's Heir. So Harry will be the King of Magical England, but Terra will be his most Dominant Mate.
Also, I plan to have someone in the gang have a really dark past, but I am personally doubting between Zexion and Daphne. Zexion, because he apparently lost his parents before he became Ansem's Apprentice and Daphne – well, Terra's POV explained that one. Anyway, let me know which one you pick.
Okay, enjoy,

Venquine1990
PS. There is a new poll up for A Cooper Family, please vote.