Chapter 21: Stimulation
Neville found himself walking alone down Knockturn alley in the middle of the night when someone grabbed him from behind.
"Ah, we meet again young Longbottom."
Neville slowly turned around and found that he was once again face to face with the mysterious, hooded stranger.
"Give me the key," he hissed, outstretching his pale, skeletal hand.
"What key?! I don't know what you're talking about!"
"I will not play games, boy. Now either you hand over the key or there will be hell to pay."
"I don't know of any key!"
The dark, hooded stranger took a step back.
"Very well," he began darkly as he turned away from Neville and snapped his fingers.
Out of nowhere his gran, great-uncle Algie and great-aunt Enid appeared before him, they looked battered, weak and pale, their eyes sunken in and their clothes torn.
Neville gasped and ran to them but the hooded figure held out his arm and caught Neville.
"Oh gran! Algie, Enid! I'm so sorry! What has he done to you?!"
His family stared up at him with lifeless eyes.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THEM?!"
"Hand over the key or you will see for yourself."
"YOU BASTARD! LEAVE THEM OUT OF THIS! IT'S ME YOU WANT!"
The hooded figure raised his wand and lazily flicked it towards the three elder Longbottoms huddled on the cobblestone street and they all immediately began to writhe about and scream in agony.
"STOP IT!" screamed Neville.
"The key, Longbottom," he drew out slowly. "Otherwise I shall finish them off."
Neville shot off every spell, charm and curse he could think of to fend the man off but nothing worked.
The hooded figured laughed coldly and shook his head.
"Silly boy, haven't you figured it out yet? None of that will work on me."
Neville released himself from the man's grip and ran to his ailing familiy.
The hooded figure slowly lowered his wand and began to pace around them.
"If you were smart boy, you would do as you are told."
Neville looked up, just as the hooded figure was about to raise his wand once more.
"Say good-bye to your family."
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Neville shot up out of bed and observed his surroundings in a panic.
He was at Hogwarts in his bed.
He wiped the sweat off his brow and discovered that his whole body was drenched.
The hooded figure in his nightmare had been the same figure in his vision the night he and Lavender were attacked.
Who was this person?
Neville knew he must be of some importance if he had come to him twice in his subconscious mind.
"Lumos," he whispered, as he glanced down at his pocket watch.
It was five in the morning and he didn't want to wake his house mates.
He slowly crept out of his bed, grabbed his uniform and decided to go to the prefect's washroom for a bath.
When he entered there were no signs of Moaning Myrtle yet.
He turned the knobs and the tub began to fill up, with bubbles already threatening to spill over the edge.
Neville tore off his soaked pajamas and slipped into the warm tub.
Today was going to be a big day for him.
Today was the day that he would finally meet the author of the mysterious letters he had been receiving face to face.
He leaned his head back against the side of the tub, removed his glasses and closed his eyes.
His muscles ached, his head was throbbing and he felt physically drained.
Neville knew he'd have to find a way to gain some strength, otherwise he'd be as useless as his father's broken wand.
He allowed for his entire head to slip under the water but as he went under he opened his eyes and saw someone staring at him, smiling.
Neville jumped back up and screamed.
Of course, it was none other than Myrtle.
She emerged from the water and floated above him, with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Myrtle, don't do that!"
"I didn't mean to frighten you," she pouted, "I figured you'd be visiting me soon."
After Neville got over the initial shock of nearly being scared to death he began to relax again.
"So..." began Myrtle, whirling around the tub in circles. "There was a pretty, red haired girl in here yesterday and she says she knows you."
"Oh, you mean Ginny."
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"N-no. We're just friends."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why isn't she your girlfriend?" replied Myrtle, lowering her voice.
"I- don't know," answered Neville.
"She seems to like you a lot. We talked about you you know."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"So come on then...you can't just tell me that and expect me to not ask what was said about me."
"I told her that you come in here a lot more than anyone else and that you're good company."
"Er, is that all?"
"Yes she did most of the talking about you. She had a lot to say."
"What did she say about me?"
"Just the usual malarky that girls gush about. She talked about how cute you are and how she wishes you would ask her out, stuff like that."
Neville felt his skin scorch even more under the warmth of his blushing.
"You look skinnier every time I see you you know," began Myrtle, observing him with squinted eyes. "I reckon if you continue to shrink there won't be anything left of you the next time I see you. Which is a shame, you have so much potential."
"I think you uh, need to get your glasses checked," he muttered.
"Why are you always so negative?" she asked. "You always seem so miserable. You can't possibly lead as pathetic and lonely an existence as I once did?"
Neville stopped to think and realized he couldn't answer her question. He knew nothing about her.
"I never got any joy out of life," she began sadly. "I was born to two muggle parents who ignored me and shipped me off to boarding school where the other girls played cruel tricks on me. Esther Hart was the meanest, one time she tucked the back of my skirt into my knickers and I walked around like that all day before I even noticed and everyone laughed at me. Do you know what it's like to be the butt of everyone's jokes?"
Myrtle began to tear up and Neville's heart sank.
He did know how that felt, he had been the butt of many people's jokes and the target of many slytherin tormentors when he was younger.
"The closest I ever came to having a real friend was when I was nine, Ramona Crabtree told me one day after lessons that she wanted to be my friend. We walked to our lessons together, spent our meal times together and I told her everything and she listened, until one day she told me to meet her outside by the lake, she told me she had invited some boys from around the area and that we were all going to jump in stark naked. So I went to the lake and waited and she came over to me and said that the boys would be coming in a little bit but that she had to show them where to come meet us. So she told me to wait there for them and to take everything off. A few moments later she came back, fully clothed and she shined a flashlight on me and then the laughter started. She had summoned all the girls from our grade and they all pointed and laughed. Then they stole my clothes and ran back inside. There were no boys I should have known that. She pretended to be my friend for an entire week to gain my trust when all she wanted was to humiliate me like everyone else."
Myrtle sighed through her sobs and peeked at Neville through her fingers.
"Myrtle, I-I'm so sorry that happened to you. I don't know what to say..."
"Then of course I got my letter from Hogwarts informing me that I was a witch. I was so happy and thought that things would be different now that I was special but things were just as bad here. They were all horrible to me, they called me every name in the book and all told me how much they hated me and how they wished me dead, and then one day they got their wish. I was in one of the stalls in the girl's washroom crying because Olive Hornby made fun of my glasses and that's when I heard his voice, a boy in the girl's washroom. Of course I opened the stall door to see who it could be and yelled at him to go away and the last thing I saw was a pair of large yellow eyes. Olive had quite a fright when she discovered my body," replied Myrtle, with a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "I followed her everywhere she went, haunting her until she couldn't take it anymore."
She sighed.
"No one cared about me while I was alive and no one cares about me now."
"That's not true Myrtle."
"Oh yeah?" she countered. "How would you know?"
"I-I care..." began Neville truthfully. "In fact, I came in here just to see you."
Suddenly Myrtle's face brightened and her eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yes, I-I was hoping that you could help me with something."
"You want my help?" Myrtle questioned with disbelief.
"Yes. Now this may sound silly, so please bare with me. I've been having these visions of a tall hooded man, in a black cloak. I've yet to see his face b-but both times he mentioned something about a key and I'm just trying to figure out what he would want with a key and why he thinks I have it because I don't."
Myrtle's face softened as she thought.
"Did he describe the key?"
"No."
"That's strange...I'm sorry. I don't think I can help you."
"It's alright. I think I'm going to have to speak to professor Dumbledore about this."
Neville finished washing up, thanked Myrtle for listening and promised to come visit her again soon.
Of course she whined and cried and begged him not to leave but he had been in the tub for almost an hour and his skin was becoming wrinklier than a prune.
"I promise I'll visit again," he shouted back to her as he ran out..
He looked down at his pocket watch.
It was now almost six and the others would be waking up shortly to get ready for breakfast.
Neville decided he'd go and pay Dumbledore a much belated visit.
As soon as he reached the Headmaster's office his stomach began to turn and he wondered if he would be able to do this.
He approached the door and was contemplating knocking, he was beginning to feel dizzy and turned to walk away when the door opened.
Neville quickly turned around and his eyes immediately connected with a pair of twinkling blue ones.
"I've been expecting you."
"You have?"
"Please, come in."
Neville entered and Dumbledore closed the door behind them.
"Have a seat."
Neville sat down and chills ran up his spine.
'How did he know I was coming?'
"So Mr. Longbottom, how are you this moring?"
"I'm alright."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and he watched Neville through his half-moon spectacles.
"I believe there is something you'd like to bring to my attention?"
"H-how did you know?"
"Just a feeling," he replied, his blue eyes still twinkling mysteriously.
"W-well there are a couple of things," began Neville slowly, careful about what he was to say. "F-first of all d-do you know who sent the dementors after me at Hogsmeade? W-why were they after me? What did they want?"
Dumbledore watched the boy closely before answering.
"They were sent by Death Eaters Neville, and they weren't after you, not yet."
"Then who were they after?"
"The question my boy, is what were they after."
"Professor...did you know about my family's attack?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes. They were attacked by Death Eaters. I believe there were around twenty of them."
Neville's stomach dropped.
Twenty Death Eaters against his three family members.
"D-do you know their whereabouts sir?"
"Unfortunately I do not. I only know that they are safe."
Neville was about to mention the letters he'd been receiving but decided not to since he'd been told specifically by Dumbledore himself that he and Harry were not to leave school grounds under any circumstance unless he said otherwise.
"Sir, there's a couple of more things..."
"Go on."
"During a few of my sessions with professor Snape, h-he'd been acting rather peculiar."
At this Dumbledore's eyes flashed momentarily.
"Oh?"
"Yes sir, um h-he was demonstrating legillimens and occlumency a-and he entered my mind. I-I think he was trying to find something, a certain memory and so when I countered back and entered his mind...I-I saw something and he flew off the handle."
"What did you see?"
"I saw him with my uncle Francis...they were talking about something and they had a letter. It didn't look right a-and I'm sure you know...both of their pasts have been sketchy so I-I just haven't been sure if I can trust either of them. It just didn't seem right what I saw."
"I see," replied Dumbledore softly.
"I-I may just be being paranoid, I don't know."
"Neville, I assure you if I had any reason not to trust either of them that I would not have enlisted them to become members of the order. The order is only open to the most trustworthy and loyal wizards and witches. Not all bad seeds end up turning into bad fruit."
His eyes continued to twinkle.
"I understand how hard this must be on you Mr. Longbottom. Harry has had seven years to prepare for this whereas you unfortunately have not had the same circumstance."
"Professor, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why didn't anyone tell me that I was involved with the prophecy? Why the wait? Francis told me that you forbade my gran from telling me. What could have possibly made you think it would benefit me by not informing me about this?"
Dumbledore smiled at the young boy seated before him.
"Mr. Longbottom, there are reasons for revealing things and reasons for not, and the reason for not revealing this to you sooner was because I didn't see it necessary to trouble you with hearsay. Because at the time of your birth that's all it was...until your fifth year when the battle at the department of mysteries occurred. The Death Eaters wanted the prophecy to hear it in it's entirety because it had been recalled that someone years ago had known there was possibility of another boy being mentioned aside from Harry and once that reached Voldemort he had to know who that other boy was. Now that you are older and in your final year here and that it has been discovered that Voldemort is aware of your existance and your tie in with the prophecy you as well are becoming a threat to him and his sole purpose is to destroy you before you even have a chance to fight."
At those last words the hairs on Neville's neck began to prickle.
"S-so do you know why he sent Death Eaters after my family? What did he want with them?"
"He sent Death Eaters after them for the same reason he sent them after your parents..." began Dumbledore, his smile fading but his eyes still twinkling. "They hold the key to Voldemort's plans for the fate of our wizarding world."
Neville gasped.
Could Dumbledore possibly mean the same key that the hooded figure had been mentioning in his visions?
"The key...professor! The night I was attacked I-I fainted and I had a vision of a man in dark robes, his face was hidden by a hood and he demanded that I give him a key...and just a little bit ago I awoke from a nightmare and he was in it! He kept talking about that same key. Do you know who this man could possibly be?"
"I do," replied Dumbledore, his voice so low that Neville almost had to lean forward and turn his ear to hear him. "That man...is almost as dangerous and merciless as Voldemort himself. His name is Althalos Bloodworth and he is by far the most deadly Death Eater known to the wizarding world."
"B-but how do you know that's who it is? I-I never saw his face. I-I had no way of identifying him."
"Ask Francis," answered Dumbledore simply. "And he will tell you."
Neville's head was spinning.
"What do these visions mean and how did they come to me?"
"This I do not know, Mr. Longbottom. But I imagine they are of utmost importance and that whereever these visions are coming from it is to help guide you."
"D-do you know about this key he was referring to? H-he kept saying I have it and I don't know of any key!"
"It was in your family's possession. Your parents were elected to guard the key and keep it hidden, Death Eaters were sent after them to retrieve the key but they never found it and it's whereabouts are currently unknown. Voldemort already has hundreds of Death Eaters searching for it, which is why your family was attacked, they were believed to have had the key last."
"W-what is the purpose of the key?" Neville asked slowly. "And why does Voldemort want it so badly?"
But before Dumbledore could answer there was a soft knock on his door.
"Please excuse me for just a moment."
Dumbledore got up and opened the door, it was Snape.
Neville tried to listen but couldn't hear what they were saying because they were whispering.
A few moments later Dumbledore returned to his desk to grab his wand.
"I do apologize Neville but I'm afraid we are going to have to continue this later. Severus has just brought to my attention that there were two more attacks today and we must go out on official order business. I should be back sometime later tonight if you'd like to visit me then."
Dumbledore walked Neville out of his office and then he and Snape apparated.
------
Neville quickly ran up to the dorm where the other boys were scampering about getting ready for breakfast.
"Oy mate, where you been?" asked Seamus.
"Uh, I woke up early so I went for a bath in the prefect's washroom."
"Say, has anyone seen my socks?" asked Ron, pulling all of the sheets off his bed as he looked.
"Have you checked to make sure they haven't thrown themselves out the window?" cracked Seamus.
The other boys snickered.
"You could try washing 'em you know," continued Seamus.
"Aw, shut it!" replied Ron, his face had turned as red as his hair.
"Honestly though who misplaces socks?" replied Dead curiously.
"So Neville, how goes it?"
He looked up to see that Harry had been ignoring the other boys.
"Fine I suppose."
"That's good."
Neville had the sudden urge to tell Harry about his visions of the hooded Death Eater Althalos Bloodworth but didn't want the other boys to be present when he did.
"Sorry if I've seemed a bit out of it lately," he began guiltily. "I'm just stressed. We all are."
"It's alright," answered Harry. "I know what you're going through."
"What who's going through?" asked Ron suddenly, turning to the them.
"Er, nothing Ron," replied Harry quickly.
"Right, well I can see when I'm not being included," he replied sullenly.
"We can talk later if you want," mumbled Harry to Neville.
Neville nodded and watched as Seamus and Dean left.
"You two coming?" beckoned Ron, as he turned around to wait for Neville and Harry.
"No. You both go on ahead I think I'm just going to skip breakfast today. I'm not that hungry."
Ron's eyebrows inched slowly up his forehead.
"Don't you ever eat anymore?" he asked.
"I just don't have much of an appetite. Too much going on."
"More like no appetite," muttered Ron under his breath, thinking that Neville couldn't hear. "You coming Harry?"
"Yeah, see you in a bit Neville."
"See you."
Neville had heard Ron and he wished he would have said something but he held it back.
It was none of Ron's business and he should just worry about himself.
As soon as they were gone Neville grabbed his father's journal and opened it up.
He had been reading a few pages from it when he could but hadn't in a few days.
Nothing really interesting ever seemed to come up.
His father's entries also would sometimes be months apart.
He flipped to where he left off and it read as follows:
November 25th, 1971
Something strange happened today. I can't really explain it but today at Hogsmeade I got lost and ended up finding a tent. There was a fortune teller inside and she knew who I was! She told me that my future was going to be filled with tragedy and betrayal and that I would bare a son whose power could overthrow the Dark Lord.
Neville got goosebumps as he read.
I found my way back and got Francis so I could show him what I'd found but when we returned to the site the tent and the old fortune telling witch was gone. Francis thinks I've gone mad but I know what I saw! I spoke to her, she knew my name! I haven't told anyone else about her because I don't think they will believe me.
Neville turned to the next page.
December 3rd, 1971
Francis is really making me mad. He's just jealous because I have more friends than he does and because slytherin is kicking gryffindor's arse in house points! I really hate him sometimes. I wish I were an only child, life would be so much better if he hadn't been born. Mum sent me a howler today because my grades are slipping, I hate her sometimes too. She's always yelling at me and telling me that I need to be more responsible and take my education seriously. Dad doesn't ever yell at me but that's because he's too busy working.
Neville continued to read the next three journal entries and he was about to stop until he read this:
February 17th, 1972
Me and Francis were pulled out of classes because mum and dad have been attacked. Professor Dumbledore took us into his office and assured us that they were alright but we thought they were dead! Professor Dumbledore says that mum and dad are really big targets for the Death Eaters because they know something that they shouldn't. I don't have the slightest clue what that could be and Professor Dumbledore wouldn't tell us anymore. I don't want mum and dad to be in any danger. Professor Dumbledore told us that they wish us well and send their love and that we can't visit them because it's too dangerous. I have a really bad feeling that something is about to happen. Everywhere I go I have a sense that evil is following me. I hope the Dark Lord doesn't kill mum and dad. I wish I knew more. I wish the adults thought I was old enough to understand.
"Oy mate, why aren't you at breakfast?"
Neville jumped and quickly closed the journal and set it aside.
"Oh hello Dean. I wasn't feeling hungry so I'm just...hanging out here."
"I see..." replied Dean. "You going to be ready for our game tomorrow?"
"Yes. I'm excited for it."
"Good. Glad to hear that...so listen I've been meaning to talk to you about something."
"What's that?" replied Neville curiously, wondering what on earth it could be.
Dean hesitated for a moment before walking further into the room until he was standing beside Neville's bed.
"Well, I hope this isn't awkward or anything but I...and you don't have to but I was wondering if you could possibly talk to Ginny for me?"
Neville's heart sank as Dean continued.
"Ever since we broke up we haven't really been talking much and seeing how she's always with you I was hoping maybe you would put in a few good words for me and pass on that I miss her and think about her a lot...I was being so stupid most of the time and I didn't pay enough attention to her and I'm sorry. I just wish we could work this all out, put it behind us and move on. I want to be with her."
Neville tried his best to hide any disappointment and managed a small smile.
"Of course I'll talk to her."
"Oh, thanks mate! You're the best!"
"Don't mention it."
"So what else is going on then?" Dean asked.
"Nothing really...same old routine."
"Right, well I just came up here to get my wand. I was in such a rush that I forgot it. Anyways I'm going to head back down to breakfast."
"Okay," replied Neville, failing to hide the defeat in his voice.
"See you later."
"See you."
------
It was mid afternoon, lunch had just ended and Neville stuffed himself until he could barely move and was still kicking himself for it.
He had been doing so well but the temptation of all the food was just too much and his stomach had been growling so loudly that others around him could hear it.
He flushed the toilet and rose with a big stretch.
He went to the sink, splashed his face with cold water, brushed his teeth and put his glasses back on so he could examine himself.
His face was puffy and beet red, his eyes blood shot and his nose was red and had been running profusely.
Neville looked a mess.
'You look awful. You are still much too fat! If only you could have seen yourself gorging at lunch, it was disgusting and everyone was staring! Have you no self-control?'
Neville opened up the door, the only other person in the dorm had been Ron when he went in and he was still there, sitting on his bed, looking at a letter his mother had sent him.
Ron looked up as Neville walked out of the washroom.
"You alright there, mate?"
"Yeah, some of my lunch didn't seem to agree with me..." he mumbled with a grimace.
"I'll say," began Ron. "You were in there an awful long time."
"I-I think it was the potato salad."
"I ate two platefuls and I'm fine," replied Ron.
"Oh, well that's good."
"So listen, Harry's been acting weird lately and he won't really talk to anyone about it, not even Hermione, and you know how she gets..."
Neville did know how she got but luckily for him she had been so preoccupied with studying for their mid-terms and her blossoming relationship with Ron that she hadn't nagged him about his eating habits in awhile but he was sure she would start up again soon, unfortunately.
"So yeah, she's really worried about him. He's sort of clammed up and distant lately. You have any idea about what might be bothering him?"
"No, haven't the slightest," replied Neville honestly.
"Well, keep your eyes and ears open," replied Ron. "Let either me or Hermione know if you find out anything."
"Will do," replied Neville.
"So what's the deal with you and Ginny? Are you two dating?"
Neville blushed.
"No...we're just friends; besides, Dean came up here earlier and told me he wants to get back together with her."
Ron looked deep in thought for a moment before he spoke.
"Well, he's my mate and everything but I don't want him dating Ginny again."
Neville was surprised.
Normally it wasn't like Ron to make such a bold comment.
"Why?"
"Oh you saw how much they fought and how often Ginny would run off somewhere crying. I just don't think they were meant to be together."
"Hmmm," replied Neville.
"Why don't you ask her out?"
"Me?" replied Neville. "Oh, Ron...no I-I just think we should be friends...I don't really-"
"Well you like her don't you?"
"Yeah, of course I do."
"I mean do you have feelings for her?"
Neville blushed again and thought for a moment.
Obviously he knew he did but he felt just a tad uncomfortable discussing his feelings about Ginny in front of her brother.
"Yes," he finally mumbled.
"Well alright then so what are you waiting for?"
"I don't know..."
"I've experienced first hand what waiting can do..." replied Ron awkwardly, as Neville quickly looked away.
"Yeah, sorry bout that..." he mumbled. "I-It was Hermione's idea...I hope it didn't upset you too much."
Ron chuckled.
"No, you both got me good. I honestly thought you and Hermione were dating, hell everyone did!"
Neville began walking towards the door but stopped as Ron continued.
"I think you'd be good for my sister," he began. "You're a nice guy and she deserves someone who's going to treat her right and I know you would."
Neville froze and stared at Ron dumbfounded.
He and Ron had never really been very close but he was closer to him and Harry than to Dean and Seamus and Neville realized that that was probably the nicest thing that had been said to him in awhile, and the fact that it came from Ron surprised him.
Neville smiled.
"See you later."
"Bye."
He decided to go to the greenhouse when he was stopped by his uncle.
"Hello Neville."
"Hi."
"How are you?"
"Fine."
"Good...I just wanted to see if you'd like to join me for dinner tonight? You know, like we used to?"
Neville was about to accept his offer until he remembered that tonight he was supposed to meet up with X at Honeydukes.
"I'd love to but unfortunately I have something I need to do. What about tomorrow?"
Francis gave Neville a pat on the shoulder.
"That would be lovely."
"Sorry I've been so...weird lately."
"It's alright. We all have those days."
"I'm actually on my way to the greenhouse so I'll see you later," replied Neville.
There was still so much he wanted to talk to Francis about and get sorted out, not to mention his father's strange journal entries but it would simply have to wait. Learning of his gran, Algie and Enid's well being was more important.
"Alright then, take care Neville."
When Neville reached the greenhouse he grabbed a stool and began working with his plants until he was interrupted twenty minutes later.
"Hello Neville."
He quickly turned around, even though he knew immediately that it was Ginny.
"Hey Ginny, come on in. I just got started if you want to join me."
She took a seat next to him and began planting seeds with him.
"How are you?" she asked.
"Fine, you?"
"I've been better," she answered glumly.
Neville lifted his hands out of the potting soil and turned to her.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know exactly..." she began. "I've just been down...for no particular reason."
"I'm sorry," he replied, watching her worriedly. "Anything I can do to help?"
"I'll let you know."
"Well I know something that might cheer you up," he began slowly, returning his attention to his plant.
"What's that?"
"I talked to Dean earlier...and he wanted me to tell you that he misses you and thinks about you all the time and that he's sorry."
Neville paused to give Ginny a moment to reply and when she didn't he continued without looking at her.
"He really does seem to miss you. He hasn't been quite as cheerful since you two broke up."
Silence.
In fact, the silence lingered on for so long that Neville finally once again removed his dirt covered arms from the pot, wiped them on a towel and turned to her.
She was staring at him, her eyes blank.
"Ginny? You alright?"
"Did he tell you to tell me that?"
"Er, no not exactly..." he lied.
"Well, you can tell him this for me. It's over. We're done and I will never date him again. The most we can be is friends but it's going to take awhile."
Neville looked away sheepishly.
"He's not going to like hearing that..." he mumbled.
"Well too bad." Ginny replied sharply, still staring hard at him.
"Er...alright then."
If only Dean would have known how awkward this was for him.
Neville turned back to her again and saw that she had still been staring at him, only now she had tears welling up in her eyes that was was trying desperately not to release.
"Ginny," he began softly. "What's wrong?"
"You have no clue do you?" she whispered.
"No clue about what?"
She began shaking her head sadly and sighed.
"I don't know what it's going to take to get through to you Neville."
He raised his eyebrows and watched her.
He was more confused than ever.
"Ginny, what are you talking about?"
"Have you forgotten already?"
"Forgotten what?"
Ginny finally let out a loud shriek and threw her hands up in the air.
"Don't you remember that night...when we first kissed?"
Neville blushed furiously.
He wanted to dive into his potted plant and disappear.
It's not that he had forgotten, he could never forget that night even if he wanted to.
He had just figured that night hadn't been as special to Ginny as it had been to him and that she would be the one to forget.
"How could I forget Ginny?"
"Well you could have fooled me. It's already as if that night's been forgotten...we don't talk about it or when we kissed a second time."
"I-I..."
"Neville, don't you remember anything I told you on either of those nights?"
He remembered everything.
Ginny continued.
"I want to be with you Neville but i-if you don't feel the same then just tell me! I'm a big girl, I can handle it. I just don't like being drug around."
"I-I...Ginny I just...I-"
"What?! Come on, Neville! Just say it!"
Ginny immediately regretted her outburst but she was getting frustrated with his flakiness.
"I love you!"
Silence.
Neville's eyes widened with horror when he realized what he'd just said.
Ginny's eyes were wide too and they both just stared at each other.
The heat hit his face immediately and he wished a Death Eater would walk into the greenhouse right now and just finish him off.
He couldn't recall having been this mortified in quite awhile.
"Do you mean that Neville?" asked Ginny softly, not taking her eyes off of him.
He mumbled and bumbled and tried to think of an explanation for screaming that out but when he couldn't think of anything he realized that there was no excuse.
He really had meant it.
"Yeah...I do," he began softly, still unable to look her in the eye. "I-I...I've liked you since I took you to the Yule ball. That had been the best night of my life up until when you kissed me. I just...I guess I didn't know how to tell you."
Ginny finally smiled and pulled her stool closer to his.
"Maybe I should become short with you more often," she teased.
When he finally gathered up the courage to look at her he saw that her brown eyes were sparkling and lighter than usual due to the sunlight.
Her pale, tiny face was now inches from his and she leaned in closer.
"I feel much better now," she replied, grabbing hold of his dirt covered hand. "Thank you."
Neville didn't know what had encouraged him to do it but he slowly moved his left hand up to her hair and began to run it through.
He had always wondered sometimes what it would feel like to run his hands through her hair and now he was, he couldn't believe it.
It felt even better than he could have ever possibly imagined.
It was so soft and silky, and just the scent of it practically lifted him up off of his feet.
He moved both hands just below her ears and slowly drew her into a kiss.
His heart fluttered and he silently rejoiced as she wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to pull her closer.
While they were kissing Ron's voice popped into his head.
"Why don't you ask her out?"
"What are you waiting for?"
"I think you'd be good for my sister."
Neville couldn't believe this was happening.
This had only been the third time they'd kissed and it only got better and it would only continue to get better, he never wanted this moment to end.
A few minutes later Neville gently pulled away and gave a sigh of relief.
No matter how humiliating he had felt when he blurted out he loved her it had been worth it, it felt so good to finally get his feelings out.
"Ginny," he began softly, his heart pounding from the adrenaline of kissing Ginny and also from what he was about to say. "Listen, obviously I'm not very good with words at times...or actions...b-but I-I've been wanting this for so long but honestly thought it'd be nothing more than a silly dream always hanging over me..."
He paused and took a deep breath.
"This is all just kind of happening so fast..."
"It's okay Neville," replied Ginny encouragingly.
"Well, umm...I-I would love to be your boyfriend...t-that is if you want me."
Ginny softly slugged him on the shoulder.
"Have you not learned? Of course I want you! I'd love to be your girlfriend! I honestly thought you were never going to ask me!"
"Me either," he replied, laughing.
They kissed again and when they pulled away Ginny couldn't contain her smile.
"I just know you're going to make me so happy, I mean...you've already been making me happy but you know what I mean."
"You've always made me happy Ginny. I-I'm just glad that now I'm finally getting a chance to be with you."
"So why don't we go out tonight? You know...celebrate our unification?"
"Oh Ginny, I'd love to but I have something I need to do..."
"What do you need to do?"
Neville hesitated.
"Well, it's a family matter. No big deal."
"What sort of a family matter?"
Neville couldn't tell her, not just yet but he didn't want her to get offended by not sharing.
"I'll tell you all about it tomorrow."
Thankfully she had accepted that answer.
"This all feels like a dream..." replied Neville. "Would you mind pinching me so I know for sure I'm not dreaming?"
Ginny giggled.
"I can do something else to prove that you aren't dreaming," she replied, grinning wickedly.
"Whoa," replied Neville. "Uhhh..."
She giggled again.
"Neville, can you promise me one thing though?"
"What's that Ginny?"
"No secrets...ever, about anything. Promise?"
Neville's heart sank.
He was already lying to her.
He had way too many secrets that he had planned on taking to his grave.
Neville pushed the guilt aside and forced a smile.
"No secrets."
------
On the way back from the greenhouse Neville and Ginny had decided it would be best to keep their relationship quiet for a few days until Neville began to feel more comfortable with people knowing.
They were now at dinner which was almost over and the entire time Neville and Ginny acted as they normally would and Dean kept sneaking glances towards them and to Neville as if to try and listen and see that Neville was talking to Ginny for him like he had asked.
Neville was more careful this time about what was going into his mouth, his day had definitely picked up for the better and he did not feel like having a repeat of lunch. Also he had to keep it to a minimum so he could quickly run to the nearest washroom and head on out to Honeydukes.
Luckily for him Dumbledore and Snape hadn't returned yet so their session obviously wouldn't be happening.
His stomach was churning and his appetite was suddenly cut off.
He set his fork down and pushed his plate aside.
He snuck a glance down at his pocket watch, it was ten till seven.
"You're done already?" Ginny questioned. "You haven't eaten a lot."
"'M'full," he mumbled. "Had a big lunch."
He waited until Ginny looked at him and shoved one last big spoonful of potatoes into his mouth.
"Okay, now I'm full."
She smiled and turned to reply to something Hermione had said, and as soon as she did Neville looked around the rest of the table to make sure no one else was watching him and quickly spit out the potatoes into his napkin.
"Well Ginny...I uh, got to go do that thing I told you about earlier...I'll see you later."
And before Ginny could even turn to tell him bye he bolted out of the Great Hall.
He was just about to enter the nearest washroom when he heard hurried footsteps behind him.
He froze.
"Hey! Where are you off to so quick? Aren't you going to let me give you a proper good-bye?"
Neville stood awkwardly in front of the door and smirked.
"S-sorry...I didn't want to interrupt your conversation."
"You wouldn't have and what are you doing? Thought you had something to do?"
"I do..."
"So why were you about to go in there?" she motioned with her head.
"Guess I drank too much pumpkin juice..." he replied, blushing.
"Oh well, go on. I'll wait for you."
"N-no, that's okay...I-I don't know how long I'll be."
"Oh alright," began Ginny, finally giving in. "First of all, good luck with whatever it is you're going to do and if I don't see you again tonight I wanted to tell you good night."
She got on her tip toes and kissed him.
"Good night, Ginny."
She began walking back and turned around for one final wave before finally disappearing into the Great Hall.
And as soon as she disappeared, he vanished into the washroom.
------
Neville had his wand gripped tightly in one hand and his most recent letter in the other.
He glanced down to read it once more.
Neville,
I hope you are well. I am writing to you because it is safe enough now for us to meet. I will be at Honeydukes on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. I will be wearing ruby red dress robes. You can't miss me. I must ask that you come alone and that you do not tell anyone of your whereabouts. Also with this I must ask you to continue to keep a low profile and not to leave the school's premises until Saturday when I will have allies watching out for you if anything is to happen. If you have any questions or concerns with the arrangement please write back otherwise I will see you on Saturday at 7'O clock sharp.
P.S. Your family is safe with me.
X
Neville had made it through Hogsmeade without any problems but his stomach was twisting into knots and he had no idea what to expect.
But he had waited far too long to chicken out now.
He took a deep breath and walked into Honeydukes.
He looked around and immediately his eyes were drawn to ruby red robes, which was pretty easy to spot in a sea of gray, black and blue robes.
Neville slowly walked up to the stranger in red.
"Hem, h-hello…" he started.
The stranger turned and smiled up at him.
Neville was rather surprised that it happened to be a girl, and a rather attractive one at that, who did not seem to be much older than him by the looks of it.
She was very thin, with pale, freckled skin and dark brown eyes. Her hair was also dark brown with red streaks running through it. It was styled into a very short, pixie cut that complimented her small face.
"Why hello," she began kindly. "I have to be honest, you look…nothing like I imagined you would…" she paused, with a wide, dimpled smile. "Your gran painted a much different picture…come on then sit," she replied, pulling a chair out for him.
The girl had quite a thick accent but Neville couldn't identify its origin.
There was someone else at the table as well, a boy who didn't look to be much older than the two of them.
He was also very thin, pale and freckled with hazel eyes. He had blue hair which was short and sleek except for one long piece that hung down and covered one eye completely. He appeared to be wearing black eye make up and his fingernails were also painted black. Neville also noticed that he happened to have a lot of piercings. Both of his ear lobes were pierced, his cartilage, his lip, his eyebrow, and his nasal septum- which instantly made Neville think of a bull.
The other boy watched Neville closely as he sat down.
"Well I'm uh, glad you showed up…we weren't sure if you were going to come…" the girl replied, still smiling sweetly at him.
"Yeah, so about my gran…" began Neville.
"Oh she's fine. In fact, she wanted me to give you this…"
The girl reached under the table and pulled out a small package and handed it to Neville.
He opened it and inside was his rememberall, which he hadn't seen in years.
"She said that you could probably find good use for it now…if you don't keep forgetting where you leave it."
The girl winked at him.
"Wow, I-I haven't seen this in ages! Thank you!"
Neville immediately began to feel better and allowed for himself to relax a little bit.
If he had anything to prove that his gran was safe and sound it was his rememberall considering she had been the last person to see it.
"Anyways, back to business…" began to girl lowering her voice. "My name is Cornelia but everyone calls me Nelie and this is my brother Maitland."
She paused for a moment and observed Neville thoughtfully.
"Francis Longbottom is our father…which you've met him already obviously."
Neville stared at both of them in shock.
"Any other long lost relatives I don't know about?"
"Nope pretty sure we're it," answered Nelie, sneaking a glance at the other boy. "Oh and you'll have to excuse my brother…he's a bit angsty most of the time."
"Yeah? Who wouldn't be with a family like ours…" he muttered under his breath.
When he spoke- also with a thick accent- Neville noticed the boy also had his tongue pierced.
Neville wondered how many more places his body could possibly be pierced.
"Right," began Nelie. "So…I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Merlin knows you've been waiting long enough to get this far so ask us anything you'd like."
"Where is my family?"
"They are safely and comfortably in hiding. Of course, I can't tell you where here but we'll take you to see them during your Christmas break. They're all doing fine. Although, as I'm sure our father told you he and your gran had a falling out...so imagine the look on her face when Maitland and I swooped in and whisked them away to safety. She hadn't ever met us before but she knew immediately who we were."
"Who sent you?"
"No one sent us. Our father thought it was too dangerous for us to get involved in the going-abouts here but once we got word that your gran, great-uncle Algie and great-aunt Enid had been attacked we rushed here immediately to help them."
Nelie paused.
"Our father didn't even know we had followed him here until we sent him a letter informing him that you gran, great-uncle Algie and great-aunt Enid were all safe and sound. In fact, he didn't even know they had been attacked until we told him."
Neville's heart sank.
That explained the duplicate letter that he had discovered Francis and Snape looking at.
A tremendous wave of guilt washed over him.
He had been so quick to suspect his uncle of wrongdoing and now he felt like such a jerk.
"We told him not to tell you anything..." she began. "Because we wanted an excuse to finally meet you and we knew that if our father told you himself that your family was safe he'd send us back home. Plus we needed the vacation."
Maitland scoffed.
"I wouldn't call this a vacation," he mumbled.
"Oh, stop it!" exclaimed Nelie.
"I-I'm so glad to hear all of this," began Neville. "I've been worrying myself to death these last few weeks about them."
"Don't worry, we've been taking good care of them. Although, I don't think your gran appreciates it much. She's very set on doing things her own way."
Now it was Neville's turn to scoff.
If they only knew.
"Are you both members of the order?" he asked.
"No. I'm training to be an auror like dad and Maitland here isn't quite sure what he wants to do."
Neville observed the other boy.
He looked as if he could be his age but he wasn't sure.
Nelie noticed Neville watching the other boy curiously.
"He doesn't talk much..." she began.
"Maybe that's because you never give me a chance," he mumbled.
"Oh Maitland. You are coming off rather rude you know?"
"So I suppose you already know about m-my uh, predicament?" questioned Neville.
"Yes. Dad told us everything."
A few moments of quiet went by before Nelie continued.
"We had a chance to join the order at one point. Dad offered for us to come with him and join when he did but then quickly retracted the offer, deciding it was too dangerous. He still wanted us to come stay here with him but we opted to stay at home."
"I just want all of this to be over," muttered Neville.
"You just got to hang in there," replied Nelie softly.
As Neville continually observed his two newfound cousins he noticed that the resemblance between him and them was rather striking. They all had the same pale, freckled skin and very similar facial features. It was actually somewhat eerie and it sent chills down his spine, especially while looking at Maitland.
Only of course they were both thin and were probably born that way, whereas he was a fat lump who had to practically kill himself to lose even a single pound.
When Nelie reached across the table to smack her brother over something he'd said Neville noticed that she had on the exact same ring as Francis, and Maitland did too.
He wanted so desperately to question the purpose of the rings but decided it could wait. After all, this was only their first meeting and he didn't want to come off as nosy or rude.
He had also realized that Francis had never mentioned a wife but again, he opted not to say anything and let them decide whether or not they wanted to share her whereabouts with him.
"So tell us a little about yourself Neville," replied Nelie with a big grin.
"Uh, I-I'm sure my gran's told you everything there is to know about me."
Nelie's grin widened.
"She also left us with the impression that you were a short, chubby lad with two left feet and very bad posture."
Neville blushed.
Leave it to his gran to give people he hadn't even met yet a solid description of who he was trying hard not to be.
"I enjoy herbology, I'm a chaser on the gryffindor quidditch team and..." Neville stopped, as pathetic as it was he couldn't seem to think of anything else.
"That's it?" began Maitland, his eyebrows raised. "Well it looks like your gran got the boring part right."
Nelie slapped her brother on the arm.
"She didn't say that Neville. He's just acting like a jerk so he can feel better about how lame he is."
Maitland smirked.
"Oh so now I'm lame? Who saved you from that fire wielding Death Eater? A second more and you would have been deader than your sex life."
Nelie gasped and nearly knocked him out of his chair.
"You're a pig!"
"Well then I'd reckon that makes you one too doesn't it?"
Nelie groaned and turned away from him.
"Are you two twins?" asked Neville.
"No, thank god!" replied Nelie. "I'm going to be turning twenty-three in a few months and Maitland just turned twenty-one."
Neville was surprised at this, they both looked as though they could pass for his classmates.
"Well I suppose it's our turn. I was born in London but our family moved to Switzerland before Maitland was born. We both attended school at Gottsgemeinde Wizarding Academy and like I said I'm training to be an auror like our dad and Maitland is still trying to find himself," she began with a smirk. "You'd think four years would be plenty of time to do that...after all, there isn't much to find!"
"It's not my fault I'm always getting sidetracked!" he rebutted.
"Well that's one thing you're definitely good at, making up excuses."
They continued to bicker back and forth for a few minutes and Neville wondered if this is what he was missing out on by not having a sibling. Who knows, if his parents hadn't ended up the way they did then maybe he would have had a little brother or sister.
Being an only child could get awfully lonely, especially if you happened to be raised with a woman like his gran.
"Sorry..." muttered Nelie, with a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. "Now where were we?"
"Who cares," replied Maitland. "I'm starving! Let's eat."
More food?
He had just eaten, and even though it didn't stay down for long he still had hated having to actually look at it, smell it and swallow it.
"It's basically just sweets here," warned Neville. "You know candy and desserts and stuff."
Maitland frowned.
"I want real food. I'm starving!"
"Alright, alright! Neville any suggestions as to where we can go?" asked Nelie.
"Umm, we could try the Grub pub. They usually have good food there, don't know if they're still serving though."
So they left Honeydukes and walked across the street to the Grub pub.
They were immediately seated and their server handed them menus.
Neville slinked down lower into his seat.
The smell of food was still fresh in the air and it was nauseating him.
When Nelie finally turned her attention back on him she smirked.
"Well, it does look like your gran was right about your posture."
Neville smirked and pretended to be preoccupied with the menu.
"What do you want Neville?"
"Nothing for me thanks," he replied.
Nelie frowned.
"C'mon, it's our treat."
"Oh thank you but I'm still full from dinner. We just ate right before I came here."
"What about sharing a dessert or something?"
"I really appreciate it but if I eat anymore I'll bust."
"Just leave him alone Nel."
Neville turned to Maitland, surprised to see that he had actually stuck up for him.
"Oh alright!" she replied, completely dissatisfied.
They continued to visit and a few minutes later their food arrived.
Nelie had ordered a slice of roast ham with a side of buttered potatoes, broccoli with melted cheese and a small bowl of curry while Maitland had ordered a rolled chicken and vegetable chajita with a side of hummus and rice.
The food smelled so good yet at the same time it was nauseating.
He couldn't even look at it.
"So what time do we need to have you back? Do you have a curfew?"
"Actually, I'm not even supposed to be out..." mumbled Neville. "My Headmaster strictly forbade me from leaving the school's premises unless he said otherwise.
"Well, aren't we the little rebel?" teased Nelie.
"I-I probably should get back though here in a little bit," replied Neville after looking at his pocket watch.
It was almost eight and someone was bound to notice sooner or later that he wasn't there.
"Alright, we'll walk back with you when we finish."
"You don't have to," began Neville. "I made it here alright tonight."
Nelie and Maitland exchanged looks.
"Yeah, but you got attacked by dementors last time on your way back from here didn't you?"
Neville groaned.
"Yeah and I turned up okay."
"Just cool it, alright? We aren't just here to babysit you, we want to say hi to our dad too," added Maitland.
Neville wasn't going to argue with that.
As soon as they finished their dinner they got up and walked back to Hogwarts.
Neville told them good night and they promised to keep him updated.
He rushed up to his dorm to change into his pajamas, brush his teeth and jump into bed before he could get distracted with anything else.
He didn't know why but he was really tired.
He had had a long day and woke up earlier than usual.
Neville pulled out the enchanted pad that Dumbledore had given to him and began to write on it until he remembered he had to use a code name.
He couldn't think of anything though, he supposed his toad would have to do, although it was a rather boring name but it would do for now.
It's Trevor. I'm going to bed.
Neville was about to put the pad away until a reply instantly appeared beneath his:
Thank you for letting me know. What about your friend?
Neville quickly scribbled his response:
He probably won't be going to bed for awhile, he's with his friends.
And beneath his came Sirius' response:
Ah, well good night Trevor.
Night.
He put the pad away and slid under his covers, he knew it was early still but he wanted to be plenty well rested for his quidditch game tomorrow.
Today had been the first good day he'd had in awhile, it may have started out rough but so many wonderful things happened. He finally admitted his true feelings to Ginny and gathered up the courage to ask her out, he has finally been reassured of his family's safety and has been acquainted with two new family members that he never even knew about.
Things were very slowly starting to fall into place and he was finally starting to get a few answers.
------
Author's Notes: A lot going on here but like I always promise, nothing will be left unresolved. :) I've already got most of the story written out- just not in order, haha. But in my head the whole thing is pretty much planned out so I know how it will all turn out. Anyways, not much else to add. Thoughts, comments, feed back. Please leave me reviews! It's the fuel that keeps me going! :) Chapter 22 to follow! Thanks for reading!