Mrs Weasley had said nothing to them for the last two days.
After the argument in the kitchen, she and Ginny had left the house without another word.
Harry was glad that the discussion hadn't been picked up again, what would his arguments be?
He had, had no leads to go off apart from a stupid note in a locket and a flashing glimpse of the mind of Lestrange.
It wasn't a great deal to be going off.
Yesterday however they got a glimpse in to the inner workings of the Death Eaters. The Longbottom's records had shown Harry some things that he knew would hold steady in the quest that lay before them.
A loud pop had signalled the arrival of Ron, he landed at Harry's side blinking in the sunlight, it had been the first time he had been out of the house since the attack and he was well aware of how bad his scar looked in the bright august sunlight.
Ron squinted in the nearest car window, he tried his best to put his hair over at least the top of his scar and his eye but it just was not happening. Carefully Hermione reached up and took his hand away.
"Leave it you look fine." she said quietly as he rested his hand in with hers. She always seamed to have a way of calming him, away of making him feel like it was going to be ok.
The two of them followed Harry down the small village street; this was quite like Ottery St Catchpole, thought Ron as he looked around at the small village shop and post office on the corner.
"Neville said his house was down here second from the end." said Harry looking over his shoulder at Ron, he nodded and looked at the untidy row of mismatched houses.
"Trevor come back!"
Ron felt Hermione laugh lightly at his side.
"You know some things will never change will they?" she asked Ron quietly, as she watched Harry run after the fat green toad that had just darted out on to the path.
"I believe this is where you came in." Ron put on a mock Hermione voice "Have any of you seen a toad? A boy called Neville has lost one…."
"Ron!"
"That was one of the best impressions that I have ever done." said Ron trying not to laugh at Hermione's blatantly put out face.
"I don't sound like that!"
"Yeah your right, not anymore you don't." Ron said taking her hand in his to stop her hitting him in the arm again, it hurt. But of course, she wouldn't find that out.
"Harry! Ron, Hermione, it's good to see you." said Neville taking the toad off Harry gratefully.
Neville was the same happy guy he always ad been, his nose was more crooked these days, he always seamed to get his nose broken, Ron had told Ginny to make sure that Neville learned as many non verbal spells as possible in the long run it would be beneficial to the cause.
Neville looked up at Ron and Hermione, he looked at the two of them hand in hand and smiled, that was until his eyes fell upon Ron's face.
"What happened to you?" Neville said staring.
"We'll fill you in when we get inside." Ron said checking the street; he had just felt a shiver up his spine, as if someone had walked over his grave. He did not care where they were as long as it was not out here in the open; they were vulnerable out in the open.
Neville nodded and lead them to the house, it was a nice little two-floored house, ivy ran up the sandstone bricks, the paint was fading on the door and the oversized vulture hat that Ron had seen before, hung on the line.
The house smelt strongly of tobacco and malt liquor, a large fat blond man sat asleep in the chair by the window.
"My uncle." said Neville apologetically. "Yes the one that dropped me out the window." he added upon seeing the look on Hermione's face.
"He looks nothing like you." Hermione said quietly.
"Yeah, I know its weird right? I mean Nan says she can't believe it she thought I would look just like him…" Neville shrugged. He had definitely changed from the first day, he was no longer short and fat, he wasn't as well built as Harry and Ron , after all they played quidditch and Neville ran a mile if he saw a broom, but Neville had defiantly filled out he was about the same height as Harry.
They followed him through to the stairs and up to the second flight that lead to the attic.
"I figure that this is stuff that mum and dad were doing for the order as well as the ministry, I know id rather you guys had it." said Neville pointing to a stack of boxes in the corner.
"You sure you don't mind?" Hermione asked him quietly, watching him as he sank on to an old chest.
"Take it, seriously, I want to help as much as I can, I don't know how this will help but you never know…"
"Thanks Neville mate." said Ron nodding at him.
Harry walked over to the boxes and lifted the first one placing it next to the others.
"What made you think that I might have something to do with the founders?" said Neville eventually.
Harry looked up from the file he was reading, as did Ron and Hermione.
Ron looked at Harry, he wanted to know himself.
"I just thought you might…let just say I had a bit of a tip off."
An uneasy silence fell across the room.
"That's all you'll get out of him," Ron said eventually.
"It's not that I don't want to tell you Neville, it's just we made a promise to Dumbledore…"
"And I wouldn't want you to break your word to Dumbledore."
Again, the silence fell across them again.
"I know your not coming back, Ginny told me all about it, well bit's… you know it's like I've always known," Neville got up. "I know you guys want to talk, I'll go and get something to drink…" Neville excused himself.
Ron watched him as the door to the attic closed behind him.
"I hate this…I hate not being able to ask for help." Hermione said eventually.
"You want help from Neville?" Ron asked curiously.
"No but the opportunity to ask for it would be nice… we seam to be alienating all the people we care about…"
Harry listened to them talking , he wasn't really listening he was to busy reading the file that he had just found…why would Bellatrix Lestrange be sighted near Tom Riddle's Fathers home?
It was like all the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall in to place…
"He collect's things, people and places….I think I know where one of them is." said Harry jumping to his feet and snapping the other two out of their retort.
"What?" said Ron looking at him.
"I think I know where we have to look …Dumbledore wouldn't have told me half the stuff he did if he didn't think it was important…."
"That's what I've been saying…," said Hermione.
"I know but the thing is I have no idea how to destroy the things once we have them…," said Harry.
"Then it's just as well you have Hermione about right?" said Ron helping her to her feet.
The three of them grabbed a box each and climbed down the stairs, Neville was standing in the kitchen.
"You find anything?"
Harry nodded, Neville smiled at him. "Well you know where I am if you need anything…I mean I know I'm pretty useless at most stuff but well…"
"Neville if we need you we'll call for you ok?" said Hermione putting the box down on the table and hugging him. Harry saw the dangerous glint in Ron's eye but it passed as quickly as it had there.
"Seriously mate, I'm looking on you to look after Ginny, I mean if me and Harry weren't there…."
"She would be perfectly capable of hexing anyone of the face of the planet." said Neville grinning slightly. "Take care; don't go dying on me just yet."
Harry gave a quite laugh. "They haven't managed it yet have they?" he said as Neville showed them out the back door.
"Where is your Gran anyway?" asked Ron as he stepped over a puffer pod and around the patch of fanged geraniums.
"She went to see mum and dad…apparently there improving."
"That's great." said Hermione exchanging looks with Harry. He had felt the strange twisting in his stomach as well.
"Well that's what I said, but I dunno if I want to go in and see them or not…"
"I would …," said Harry, "Make the most of them." Neville looked at Harry. Harry knew he understood.
"I might go over before I go back to Hogwarts." he said quietly.
They stood in silence quite aware that this might be the last time that they might see Neville again.
With a nod, Ron and Hermione made there exit.
"Harry take care…I know if anyone can do it, it will be you."
Looking at Neville Harry could feel the words forming on his lips he wanted to say 'it could have been you' but held it back. He was not entirely sure what to say. He clasped Neville on the shoulder the way that Remus had done so many times with Sirius.
Neville nodded.
Staring at the cold facade of number twelve, Harry felt alive for the first time since the funeral; he had purpose a place to be heading, direction.
He could feel the blood rushing through his veins again; his determination more set than it had ever been before.
He knew that he had to go to Little Hangleton. He had to go back to the place that he had only visited in dreams and other people's thoughts. He had to go back to the muggle beginnings to destroy the wizarding end.
Harry would bring Voldemort down, but first he had to destroy Tom Riddle.
A/N sorry it's short…and don't worry Neville fan's he will be back later on …I've been busy doing bowling for soup related things( Yay erik) and having the flu….also one of the guys who I really look up to a lot died on wed's morning, I didn't know him personally but he was a good guy. he will be missed. His band and fans are all in shock …R.I.P Dallas.