Chapter 26:

Once Dean, Seamus and Ron fell asleep Harry still sat awake with Neville. That's when Harry decided to tell him. "Neville?"

"Yeah, Harry?"

"You know how I stayed at Hogwarts over the summer."

"Yeah. I really had fun at the party."

"Well I wanted to tell you why. I started to have dreams, more like memories of things before my parents had died. Dumbledore wanted to keep an eye on it. I got to see and hear things about my parents that had happened when I was a baby."

Neville stared at Harry for a moment. "That must have been amazing," he said in a choked voice.

"It is. You were in one of them. My mum and dad must have been friends with yours. They were at a meeting here in the Great Hall making plans to fight Voldemort. Both of us were there playing. I think we might have been friends if my parents hadn't—"

"We're friends now aren't we?"

"Of course."

"Was that the only thing you saw of my mum and dad?"

"Yeah. I'll tell you if I learn more. But my parents mentioned them a few times. I guess they like to tell stories a lot because I learnt a lot about their years in school in my dreams too."

"Really? Was it different?"

"Mostly Dad and his friends talked about adventures. They were like Fred and George. They pulled pranks but they also explored the castle and made a map of the passageways. I've kind of decided I want to be like that. Ron too."

"Not Hermione?"

"You know how she is about rules. She's fine when we're not breaking them. But my Dad's group was four people. If we're going to be Marauders we need a fourth member."

"Who is it?"

"Well I was hoping it'd be you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You're our friend. You're nice, brave enough to stand up for yourself to Malfoy and almost everyone else. You're great at Herbology and a lot of other things if you gave yourself the chance. What do you say?"

Neville grinned. "Yeah. I mean, I didn't think you'd want me too do things like that with you, Ron and Hermione."

"Well we're asking aren't we?"

"Thanks." For a moment there was silence. "Could you tell me what you remembered about my parents?"

"I only saw for a few seconds Neville." Harry said remembering Neville lived with his grandmother. What had happened to his parents?

"Oh."

"If you want to talk about them I'll listen. I mean I know you live with your grandmother. I wished for the longest time I knew about Mum and Dad. Till last year I didn't know they were wizards or their names. These memories, have been like a dream."

There was more silence. "I guess I was lucky then. Grandma tells me about them a lot. They were aurors. The bravest Grandma says. I just wish I could be like that."

"Even if you already aren't you will be," Harry assured him. "They seemed nice in my memories. They looked like they loved you a lot."

"They do." Neville drew a breath. "I wasn't planning on telling anyone. Gran thinks I should. But Mum and Dad are still alive. People know, it was a big story for a while. Death Eaters came to our house the day after you defeated Voldemort that first time and tortured them. They don't remember me know, or anything really. They live in St. Mungo's and I get to see them sometimes. I think they still love me. I hope so."

Harry didn't really know what to say. Suddenly Neville seemed to have it a whole lot worse then he ever did. "I'm sure of it. You're a brilliant friend Neville, and a great Gryffindor."

"Not really."

"You were brave enough to tell me those things just now. I won't tell anyone either. But if you ever want to talk again I'll listen."

"Thanks Harry. For everything," Neville sniffed turning away.

"Goodnight Neville."