Hi! I know it's been two weeks since I updated last, and I'm really sorry about that! I thought only one week had passed and I've been doing a lot of testing sooo I've been really really really busy. But sorry anyway. So I got a review from firebird-fenix which made me think a lot. It was so interesting! I never had thought about it that way so thank you firebird-fenix for giving me an interesting perspective. Anyways enjoy this chapter! Baiiiiiiiii!
The Real Deal
Chapter 6-Acceptance
"Neville!?" Harry cried out. "What are you doing here?"
"We're getting you out!" Neville said. And Harry could see the whole DA behind him.
Harry was confused. He hadn't thought that anyone would side with him. After all even though Dumbledore was dead, he still seemed to be able to manipulate everybody. He guessed that Ron and Hermione weren't on his side anymore. 'Probably on Dumbledore's,' he thought. Not that they were ever on his side.
"Why?" Harry asked, not being able to hold his curiosity.
"Harry, we're not Dumbledore's. We never were. We're yours. We'll always side with you no matter what," Neville said.
Harry felt his heart leap. He still had somebody.
"The Weasleys aren't here though," Neville said uncomfortably. "Fred's dead, and they kind of blame you. Neville was now cutting the bonds bonding him.
Harry was shocked. He felt so sorry. Although the Weasleys had betrayed him, he never wanted Fred to die. Fred had been like a big brother to him. Even though it had been all an act, deep down the Weasleys were still a big part of Harry, and they were something that he could never hate, no matter what.
"So, what's the plan?" Neville asked, cutting Harry's train of thought.
"I...Neville, this isn't my team anymore. It's yours. Your "The Chosen One". It's you," Neville opened his mouth about to interrupt so Harry quickly continued. "Look, I appreciate you taking the time to break me out, but I'm not "The Chosen One." You have to kill the snake, Nagini, to destroy Voldemort, alright? Then, Voldemort can die."
"What are you going to do then? We're not just going to leave you, and Harry like I said before, this is your team. We didn't join the DA because you were "The Chosen One" we joined it because you were our leader. You were always guiding us, and teaching us. Being "The Chosen One" isn't what we look for as a leader. We look for someone who can guide and teach us. And you're the only one who can do that," Neville finished.
"Nevill…" Harry sighed. This was going to be so much harder than he had thought. "Look, I can't be your leader because I'm turning myself in." Harry hadn't planned on doing this. Harry had planned on living a secret life while Voldemort took over the world. But he still had friends. And he needed to protect them. The only way to do so was this.
"No! Harry! I...I...won't let you!" Neville cried.
"Neville, it's the only way. I have Voldemort's soul inside me. To destroy it Voldemort has to kill me. It's the only way. Just please don't let me die in vain. Destroy the snake, and kill Voldemort. You're the only one who can do it. Dumbledore would probably help you now that I'm turning myself in. But don't trust him Neville. Don't," Harry finished.
Neville sat, silent. And Harry stood up, and left. Neville did not stop him. What was he supposed to do now?
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Harry raced towards Dumbledore's study, checking the clock on the wall. He still had 30min before midnight. He finally arrived, and slammed the door open. Dumbledore's portrait was pacing up and down his portrait, but nobody else was there.
"Why don't you sit down, Harry," Dumbledore asked.
Harry reluctantly sat down.
"What's wrong, my boy?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry couldn't hold his anger anymore, and he burst, "What's wrong?! Are you really?! You're the man who manipulated my life! Did you really expect me not to be angry?!" Harry was standing up now.
Then, finishing what he said, he stomped out of the study, looked back, and whispered, "I'm giving myself up, like you wanted, old man."
Dumbledore looked stunned as the door slammed shut.
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Soon after several minutes of sitting, Neville finally got up. The rest of the DA had left to take care of the injured. He stood up, and walked toward Dumbledore's office.
Along the way, he spotted all the things he had taken for granted. His grandma. His school. His friends. And now? He wondered if he would ever get it again. He sighed. He had finally arrived at Dumbledore's office. He opened the door to his office, but Dumbledore's portrait was absent. Instead, in a large comfy looking chair, sat Professor McGonagall.
She noticed Neville and asked him, "To what do I owe the pleasure Longbottom."
"Professor McGonagall," Neville said. He wasn't sure how to react. Happy? Sad? Betrayed?
"How is Mr. Potter doing?" She asked.
Neville didn't answer. Trying to keep his voice calm as possible he asked, "Professor, I don't understand. Why would you do that? Why would you betray Harry for Dumbledore?"
Professor McGonagall sighed. There were a lot of complications. And she wondered if this was really the time. In the end, she decided to tell Neville. She didn't want to die, and have Longbottom know nothing about her. Dumbledore had made that mistake with Harry, and she didn't want to do so with Neville.
"I was just a little girl when I went to Hogwarts. Dumbledore had just been made headmaster. I didn't know Dumbledore very well in the beginning. But when my parents got murdered he cared for me and soon we bonded and I came to know him like a father," Professor McGonagall finished.
Neville looked stunned. He had never known anything about Professor McGonagall.
"I'm really sorry," he told her.
"Well that's all in the past now," Professor McGonagall said. "Right now we need to find Dumbledore, and correct his mistake."
"Wait you're on our side now?" Neville asked, confused.
"I wouldn't say side exactly. More like correcting a wrong," McGonagall answered. "Where is Mr. Potter by the way?"
"Er…." Neville stuttered. "Wellllll…we kind of helped him escape?"
Professor McGonagall sighed. This was going to be a lot harder than she anticipated.