Neville Longbottom
In
They're Awake
"Where's the boy?" a Death Eater said to an auror.
"I won't let you ANYWHERE near my son." The auror said.
"Too bad." Another Death Eater said pointing his wand at the auror's wife. "Crucio"
"AGGHHH!" the woman screamed.
Just as the auror was going to aid his wife, the other Death Eater shouted "Crucio!" pointing his wand at the man.
After about 2 hours of pain, the curses subsided.
"Legstrange! Crouch!" a Death Eater yelled running. "Get out of here! Aurors are on there way and the Dark Lord had vanished."
"He said he was going to the Potters to deal with them." The first Death Eater said.
"Exactly." The third one said. "The only thing left in that house are Potter and Evans' bodies, and rubble. They're saying that their boy was found alive."
"What?" the two Death Eaters asked removing the curse.
With that knowledge, only one Death Eater got away. The other was apprehended by aurors who had just gotten there. However, it was too late for Frank and Alice Longbottom. They had been under the curse for too long.
0000
14 years later,
"Are you sure this will work?" a healer asked another
"Montgomery sent this. What do YOU think?"
"I'd be surprised if it didn't." the first healer answered.
The two healers gave their two patients a potion each. After a few minutes, the man and the woman groaned.
"Neville?" the woman asked as she opened her eyes.
She looked around to see herself at St. Mungos. The last thing she remembered was being tortured by a Death Eater who was after her son.
"Where's Neville?" she asked quickly sitting up. "Where's my baby?"
"Alice. Please." The man said slowly getting up. "I have a headache."
"Well excuse me Frank Longbottom." She said. "But I'M worried about MY son."
"It's alright Mrs. Longbottom." The first healer who gave her the potion said. "Neville is just fine."
"Thank goodness." She sighed. "Who is he with?"
"As long as he's with my mother or the Potters, I'm happy." Frank said taking some medicine for his headache.
"He's with your mother." The second healer said.
"How long have we have we been here?" Alice asked as she took some headache medicine.
"14 years ." The first healer added.
"14 YEARS!?"
0000
Meanwhile,
Neville was working on a Potions essay his least favorite teacher assigned. His grandmother was out shopping, so he was home alone.
Neville's eyes turned from the book to a picture of his parents. If only they were able to help.
He then closed the book and went over to the bookshelf and pulled out another book. This one was a photo album. He opened it and saw his parents on their wedding day waving at him. He flipped through it to see other pictures. They had seemed so happy. Suddenly a picture caught his eye. He had seen it before, but he never paid much attention to it.
Neville looked at the date and saw that it was taken on July 30th, 1981. There were six figures in it: two men, two women, and two baby boys wearing birthday hats. He recognized his own family immediately. The other family he figured who they were by what they looked like. The man had messy black hair and hazel eyes. The woman had red hair and very familiar green eyes. The boy wearing the hat had his mother's green eyes and black strands of hair poked out from the hat. The other family was the Potters. He recognized them because the man looked like Harry except for the eyes. The woman had the same colored eyes as his friend. How come he never realized it before?
Neville took out the picture making a mental note to himself to make a copy of that for Harry.
Suddenly, the fireplace activated and a healer's head popped into the fire.
"Mrs. Longbottom?" the healer asked.
"She's not here right now." Neville said going to the fireplace. "Can I take a message?"
"Neville." The healer said. "It's your parents."
"Move aside." Neville said. "I'm flooing to St. Mungos."
0000
A few seconds later,
Neville stepped out of the fireplace and ran to his parents' ward, not bothering to dust himself off nor letting the healer give him the good news.
When he got there, he got the shock of his life. His parents were sitting up in bed as the healers were telling them what had been going on while they were out of commission.
Neville just stood at the doorway with his mouth hanging.
Frank, while his wife was listening intensively to the healers, turned as he heard fast footsteps coming towards the room and stopping. His training as an auror had allowed him to listen to a person talk AND hear his surroundings. As he turned, he saw a fourteen, going on fifteen, version of his son.
Neville? Frank mouthed.
With tears welling up in his eyes, Neville nodded as he read his father's lips.
"And THEN," the healer continued not noticing the boy, "my Ravenclaw daughter said that she heard her third year that Neville dressed a boggart version of Severus Snape up in his Grandmother's clothing."
"Who was his Defense teacher?" Alice asked.
"I think that year was Remus Lupin." The second healer said. He has a son in Hufflepuff.
"That doesn't surprise me." Alice said. "Of those four, Lupin was the type to teach. It was HIS idea to dress Snape up, wasn't it?"
"Alice!" Frank cried from the other bed.
Alice and the healers looked over to see Frank and a boy of almost 15 years hugging.
Frank and Neville pulled out of the hug and turned to Alice.
"It's him." Frank said to her.
"Neville?" she asked.
"Mum!" Neville cried as he ran to her and they embraced.
"Oh! My baby!" Alice cried as she stroked his hair.
Just then, they were interrupted.
"There you are Neville!" a stern witch said to her grandson. "You had me worried sick!"
"Hello Mum." Frank said. "Thanks for taking care of Neville."
"Frank?"Augusta Longbottom asked. "You're okay?"
"Yes." Healer #1 said.
"Sara Montgomery found the cure." Healer #2 added.
Just then, another healer came running into the room.
"I just received some horrible news!" the third healer said. "Sara Montgomery is DEAD!"
The room fell silent.
"They found her body near a cauldron in her house." The healer continued. "No mark, nothing. It appears to have been Avada Kedavera."
"I knew it." Neville said to himself. "Harry wouldn't lie about something like that."
"What dear?" Alice asked.
"You-Know-Who." Neville told her. "He's back."
0000
A few weeks later, Frank and Alice were allowed to go home. Frank had helped Neville with his Potions assignment.
0000
The day after Neville's birthday,
"Frank!" a woman at the Ministry said from the fireplace. "Your needed at the ministry. Something's…come up."
"What?" Frank asked.
"An attack on Diagon Alley." She said. "The Death Eaters are gone except for one. He was just brought in. We need you at the trial."
"I'll be right there." Frank said. "Alice? Neville? Do you want to come?"
"Me?" Neville asked. "Okay."
0000
The three Longbottoms arrived. Alice and Neville took a seat among the audience while Frank went up with the aurors. Most of them were familiar (Frank had gone into the office just the other day), but there were three new men.
"Longbottom!" Moody said. "These are Procyon White, Romulus Lupus, and Jim Jarter. They're the ones who caught the Death Eater."
"Great job." Frank said. "I'm Frank Longbottom."
Suddenly, the Death Eater appeared being guarded by two other aurors. There was something familiar about the Death Eater.
"Peter Pettigrew?" Frank asked.
"We're just about to find that out, Longbottom." Mad-Eye Moody said.
"Well then," Albus Dumbledore said coming in. "Shall we begin?"
The vertiseurm was administered.
"What's your name?" The minister asked.
"Peter Pettigrew." The traitor answered.
There were murmurs in the audience.
"How is it possible?" Fudge asked. "Pettigrew is dead."
"I faked my death." Peter answered.
"How?" Moody asked.
"I'm an animagus."
"You're not registered." Another auror stated.
"No. But I am one. I spent the last 14 years as a rat"
"Who killed those muggles who were said to have been killed with you?" Procyon asked changing the subject.
"I did. I made it look like Sirius Black did it." Peter answered.
"Who was the Potter's Secret Keeper?" Jim asked
"I was."
This really got the audiences attention. Neville didn't know what to think. The man standing in front of the room was the one responsible for his friend's predicament concerning Voldemort.
"What we need is Black." Frank said. "To get HIS side of the story."
Dumbledore turned to the three men.
"If you will?" he said to Procyon.
"If you insist Albus." Procyon said. "Don't freak out everyone. I won't hurt you….Or prank you. This time."
The man took his wand and pointed it at himself. Before everyone's eyes, Procyon White transformed into Sirius Black.
Silence fell across the audience. Except for one cricket chirping.
"Is THIS the "Welcome Back" I get after all these year?" Sirius asked jokingly. "The Ministry had gotten DULL without me, James, and Frankie."
"I wasn't as bad as you and James." Frank corrected. "And Don't Call Me Frankie."
Alice had to stiffen a giggle. Something's never change. Sirius and James always had a way to make her laugh. Especially with Frank around.
"No matter." Sirius said. "Lay down the vertiserum. I'll take the whole bottle if necessary."
"That won't be necessary Sirius." Frank said. "Minister, Black's eagerness to take the potion is proof enough that he is willing to state the truth."
"Three drops." Fudge said.
The vertiseurm was given.
"What's your name?" The minister asked.
"Sirius Orion Black."
"Who killed those muggles?" Moody asked
"Peter. He made it look like I did it."
"Who was the Potter's Secret Keeper?" Jim asked
"Peter was. We switched at the last minute. It was supposed to be the perfect bluff. Voldemort was supposed to come after me leaving Peter, James, Lily, and Harry safe. When I figured it out, I went after Peter. That's when he faked his death."
"There appears to be a question in the audience." Moody said with his back facing the person he was referring to.
The aurors turned to see Neville with his hand raised.
"Yes Son?" Frank asked.
"I have a question for Mr. Black." Neville said. "Does Harry know the truth?"
"Yes." Sirius said. "He found out his third year."
"Thank you." Neville said. "That's all I wanted to know."
"How did you escape Azkaban?" Fudge asked Sirius
"Because I wasn't fed enough," Sirius told, "I grew thin. Soon, it got to the point where I could sneak through the bars. The dementors didn't affect me as much because I'm an animagus."
This caught the entire audience's attention. TWO unregistered animagi.
"Did you and Pettigrew learn this ability at the same time?" another auror asked.
"Yes. Me, Wormtail, and Prongs all learned at the same time." Sirius answered.
"That's THREE unregistered animagi!" the auror yelled in surprise.
"Actually, seven." Frank heard Romulus whisper to Jim. "If you include the girls"
"Who was what?" another auror asked.
"I was a dog, Wormtail was a rat, and Prongs was a stag." Sirius said.
"Prongs?" Moody asked.
"James Potter." Romulus stated.
"You learn something new everyday." Frank said as Sirius and Peter were released from the vertiserum. "Minister, I think we have enough proof that Sirius Black is innocent on all charges."
"Yes." Fudge said reluctantly. "I hearby declare that Peter Pettigrew is guilty of the murder of 12 muggles and the betrayal of the Potters. His Order of Merlin is revoked. His sentence: the dementor's kiss."
"NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!" Peter screamed as he was dragged away.
"As for Sirius Black." Fudge continued. "I hearby declare him innocent of the charges placed against him 14 years ago. He is to receive a pension of 100000 galleons, the Order of Merlin: First Class, and a pardon."
Sirius got up and hugged Romulus and Jim.
"I TOLD you!" Romulus stated. "Patience is a virtue."
"Shut up." Sirius and Jim said to him at the same time.
"The word ISN'T in our vocabulary." Jim stated.
"Hey?" Sirius asked an auror, "Can we keep it a secret that I'm an animagus?"
"Sure." The auror said with a sigh. "Well have it on hand, but it won't be published."
"Thanks." Sirius said. "Prongs would KILL me if I went legal."
"Why DID you become an animagus?" Frank asked.
"Certain creatures don't affect animals if you know what I mean." Sirius answered. "We did it to keep someone company."
"Only you and Potter could do something like that." Alice said joining her husband.
"Merlin! It's great to see you two up." Sirius said to Frank and Alice. "Sara's doing?"
"Yes." Alice said. "Just before she died."
"I heard." Romulus said. "I'd hate to be there when John finds out."
"Yeah." Jim said. "Wait…Montgomery's DEAD?"
"Yes." Frank said.
"Poor Lils." He whispered.
"She never had a chance to find the cure for you Moony." Sirius said sadly as he patted Romulus' shoulder.
"Wait a minute…" Frank said as he realized something
"Shhh." Romulus said to Frank thinking that he recognized the nickname. "I know it's difficult to believe. But I'm really Remus Lupin."
"That wasn't what I was getting at." Frank said. He knew only ONE person who knew Sara that was named (or nicknamed) "Lils". And she was supposedly dead.
"Professor Lupin?" Neville asked. "You look different."
"Same spell Sirius here used, Neville." Remus told him.
"I'm never going to get over that." Jim said. "PROFESSOR!"
"Get used to it." Remus said. "Because you'll hear that ALL year."
"Really?" Neville asked. "Your coming back?!"
"Of course." Remus said. "Jim and Sirius here will teach during my…off days."
"Oh. Full moon?"
Frank and Alice looked at their son in awe.
"What? I heard it from Ginny Weasley, who heard it from the Weasley twins, who heard it from Luna Lovegood, who heard it from Draco Malfoy, who heard it from Professor Snape."
Jim shuddered at the name.
"I still can't believe Sinvellus is teaching." Jim stated.
This REALLY caught Alice and Frank off guard. Only two people in the world ever used that word: Sirius Black, and James Potter.
"Well," Albus said going up to the group. "We must be going now Frank. Alice. We left Mrs. Jarter, Miss. Oxford, Miss. Jenkins, young Mr. Jarter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss. Granger in my office."
"Of course." Frank said. "We'll talk to you later."
Sirius turned back into Procyon as the group of men left the room and went to the lobby.
"You don't think…" Frank asked.
"I wouldn't be surprised." Alice said. "After finding out Pettigrew's a traitor and Sirius, James, and Pettigrew were animagi, NOTHING will surprise me."
0000
It was about six months after Frank and Alice got their right minds back. Neville had gone back to school and was doing splendidly. He had come home at the holidays and had the best Christmas ever not knowing Harry Potter was having the same.
Frank and Alice had to talk to Dumbledore one day just before school started so Neville went with them to avoid the train. Neville had gone on to join his friends.
0000
In Dumbledore's office,
Alice was hugging a blond woman as Frank was shaking Jonathan Newton's hand.
"Wait a minute." Frank said to a blond woman. "I heard you were dead."
"I'm going to get that a lot." Sara said. "A few students wanted to try out a potion and brought me back as well as Cedric Diggory. I'm not the first."
"Who was the first?" Alice asked.
"We were." Jim Jarter said referring to his wife and himself.
The couple removed their disguise to reveal themselves as James and Lily Potter.
"I knew it." Frank said as Alice and Lily hugged.
"It's so good to see you again." Alice said to Lily
"Same here Alice."
"You knew?" James asked as he shook Frank's hand.
"You and Sirius are the only two people I know who call Snape "Snivellus". I figured it out after you did it during Pettigrew's trial."
"Oh, by the way," Sara said. "Our revival is a secret. Until further notice."
00000
Back in the Great Hall,
Neville was starring at a sight that rivaled what he saw when he saw his parents awake.
Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George Weasley, and Hermione Granger were watching a trophy go back and forth across the table as Harry Potter was pushing it towards…Cedric Diggory?!
"How about this…" Cedric said. "We tell the press it was a tie."
"What do you think I've been trying to tell them these past few months?!" Harry asked. "But maybe they'll listen to you."
"But you're the Boy-Who-Lived."
"And YOU'RE the REAL Hogwarts' Champion. I was just a pawn in Voldemort's plan to come back and it was the perfect way to get to me."
"But who keeps the trophy?" Ron asked knowing this would start another argument.
"He does!" Both Cedric and Harry said.
"This is the opposite of what would NORMALLY happen." Hermione stated.
"Hermione." Ginny said. "This is HARRY POTTER we're talking about. There is nothing NORMAL."
"Did I miss something?" Neville asked.
"These two are too modest…" Fred stated
"…For their own good." George finished.
"There you are Neville." Frank said behind his kid.
Neville turned to see his parents, his defense professors, his headmaster, a black haired man and a blond woman.
"Neville," Alice said. "This is Sara. She's the one responsible for our revival."
"But…weren't you dead?"
"Wasn't Cedric dead?" Sara asked in reply as she pointed to the arguing seekers. "It's very nice to see you again Neville. The last time I saw you, you had just learned how to walk."
"Is that…" Alice asked looking at Harry.
"Yes Mum. That's Harry Potter."
"Scary." Frank said. "He looks just like James."
"So, this is a secret?" Alice asked Sara to confirm.
"Yes." Sara said. "The three of us won't be revealed until AFTER Voldemort's defeat."
"But that could take YEARS!" Frank stated.
"I know." Jim Jarter said. "But we'll deal with it."
The End