A/N: Hello all, you might notice from the tag lines that yes, indeedy this story is 10 years old. Well, to make a long story short I had a looooot of time as a kid where I had the opportunity to write and then real life took over and I sort of lost the plot bunny. But here I am now, reinvigorated with new hope to try writing again. I hope you join me on this journey as I dust off the cobwebs and try writing fanfiction again for the first time. Be gentle with me and please feel free to send helpful reviews with ideas :) You might just see them get used! This is an AU fifth year fic, if I make mistakes or need to eventually rework things let me know!
Plot/Prompt note: A new prophecy was heard by Dumbledore concerning Harry and Neville and as a result, he set in motion a series of treacherous things regarding their families. The realities of these betrayals of trust are only to be discovered by our boy heroes during their fifth year. The first notions of things unravelling for the headmaster was when during Charms class, a family heritage charm for Harry and Neville did not succeed. This leads the boys on discoveries about who their real friends are, who can be trusted, and what happens next.
"Today in Charms we are going to be studying the Hereditas charm," squeaked Professor Flitwick from atop his pile of charms tomes. The fifth year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had started only last month, and with this being OWLs year, the students and professors both seemed to be gearing up for a wild year of studying, examinations, and essays.
A collective groan went up from the assembled Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors but they went off into pairs as the tiny professor had instructed of them on the blackboard. As the students quickly grabbed their quills and parchment from their bags, Professor Flitwick continued.
"The goal of the assignment is to trace your family history through the generations by using the Hereditas Charm." Flitwick paused a moment to look around the room before continuing. "When you cast the Hereditas charm, gold writing should appear on the parchments that are placed before your desks. "Wizards and witches who share blood create a pool of magic that endures even after members of the family die. These family magicks can be traced and these gifts recorded on family tree parchments which are usually kept in vaults at Gringotts."
Flitwick spoke on, "Gifts— magical gifts such as being a Parselmouth, here he gestured with a kind smile in Harry's direction, being an Animagus, having wild magic in older families, and the talents for such things as potion brewing, transfiguration, and charms. All of these talents are carried through the well of ancestral or family magicks. Wizards have charms and spells that we can use to define how ancestral magic influences us, and the Hereditas charm is the base magic for all of these discoveries." Flitwick continued "The charm traces both the paternal and maternal sides of a wizard or witch's family and it is a very exhausting spell to attempt to cast, it takes a lot of magical strength to be able to delve into the secrets of a wizard's magick." He finished with a smile to the class.
"Now that I've spoken long enough, the incantation for the Hereditas charm is..."
Here, the waving, insistent hand of one bushy haired Gryffindor know-it-all, Hermione Granger, interrupted Flitwick.
"Sir... I know the answer, it's Paterfacio Vestri Heritaga," Granger finished with a bright, smug, smirk of self-satisfaction.
"Quite right, Miss Granger, but 5 points from Gryffindor for interruption of a professor." Hermione's mouth clapped shut with a snap and she gazed off into the distance, clearly shocked that she had been reprimanded by a professor. She was Hermione Jean Granger and she could do no wrong!
Flitwick ordered the class to go back to their partners and try casting the spell. Harry walked back to his seat next to Neville and smiled at the smaller boy. Harry had always admired Neville's steadfast nature and loyalty, ever since that incident in first year with Fluffy and the Philosopher's Stone when Neville had stood up to Ron, Hermione and him. Harry had also appreciated having Neville and Luna at his side last year during the Tournament when everyone else in the school had seemed to abandon him. It made him re-evaluate who his true friends were and what and who he should stand by in the future.
"Hi, Nev... How was Herbology this morning?" Harry asked as he pulled out his wand and prepared to cast the spell on his friend. He was curious about how Neville's Family Tree looked.
"It was pretty okay this morning, Harry. We were working with bubotuber pus and how to safely collect it, it is this awful, stinking, smelly mess though." Neville finished with a grimace as he could still smell the pus on the hems of his robes. Harry flicked his wand and muttered the incantation, but nothing seemed to happen; not like Hermione and Ron's spell which had produced a full family tree in shimmering gold as the direction had said it would.
"Here, let me try Harry." Neville said with a small grin as he picked up his wand. Neville waved his wand, but nothing happened, he tried again but there were no streaks of gold like Professor Flitwick said there would be, there was just nothing. Neville raised his hand and gestured Professor Flitwick over to where he and Harry were working.
"Sir, the spell... it isn't working as it should." Harry stated simply, his eyes turning to meet those of the tiny Charms professor. For Harry, charms had always been one of his more capable subjects; his magic had flowed well and responded to him. For Neville, charms was a course where he did not feel constantly pressured like during his Potions lessons with Snape, he never felt the terror he did around Snape in any other lesson he learned. He was developing into more of a confident student as time went on.
Flitwick pulled out his wand from its holster and incanted the charm just as he had instructed the boys. However, just like Neville and Harry, he was met with nothing... no magical family tree.
How peculiar… Filius thought to himself as he stroked his chin, he had some more research to do that he would have to consult the boys on. But for now, it would be best he thought to not worry them.
"Harry and Neville, my young Gryffindors; many young wizards and witches struggle with this spell you have attempted to perform today. There are many side effects to it, like queasiness and other discomforts, which from the looks of the both of you; they are beginning to manifest themselves. But it is all right, there is always tomorrow's class for another crack at the spell." squeaked the Professor who eyed the boys critically with not very well concealed worry in his eyes.
"My suggestion now is for you both to head to the Hospital Wing for a Headache Reliever and a Stomach Calming Draught, neither of you look quite right." The kindly professor finished speaking and patted both boys on the arm.
The boys stood from their chairs and walked towards the door; Harry's face was set in a grimace as his hand clutched his stomach in discomfort. His eyes were downcast so he did not notice the way that Professor Flitwick's eyes gleamed with worry. Neville though had his eyes up and caught the look. He had to talk to Harry privately after the both of them were feeling better. Neville often pretended to be an idiot or an oaf to lull the others into a false sense of security, but not when Harry was concerned.
Hermione looked up from the family tree that Ron had produced and stood up to half-block the doorway to the classroom. Glaring at both boys, she drew herself up to her full height before snapping at Neville and Harry.
"And just where do you think you're going?" Hermione asked waspishly, looking down at both boys as she snottily tried to insert herself in their business before being frozen in place by a glare from both boys.
"Harry and I need to go to the Hospital Wing, get out of our way!" Neville said as he drew Harry closer to himself and also slid his wand into his hand to point at the annoying girl. When Ron saw that his girlfriend was in danger from Neville, he launched to his feet and started shouting at the boys until he became red in the face.
"You're not going anywhere, Harry's our friend and he's not a concern of yours." Ron spat back and he looked at Neville with derision before drawing his wand and pointing it back at the boys.
"His friend?! Bah, you wouldn't know what friendship was if a troll walked up behind you and clubbed you over the head with it. The both of you are absolutely worthless excuses of friends. You never showed that friendship last year during the Tournament Huh. Did you?" Neville hissed back at them. Neville's words stung at Hermione's heart for the briefest of moments before she raised her wand.
"Stup—" she started to speak before a shouted Expelliarmus coming from the direction of Professor Flitwick caused her wand to fly out of her hands and land in the professor's.
"MISS GRANGER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Professor Flitwick shouted as he rounded on the girl with a furious glare. Attacking a fellow housemate, 75 points from Gryffindor and you will serve detention with me on Friday evening. Further, you and Mr. Weasley both will report to the headmaster because I will be making a report on your behaviour to both your Head of House and Headmaster Dumbledore as well.
Hermione scowled before stomping off back to her desk and Neville looked triumphant as he helped Harry through the now open doorway.
To Neville, Harry was not the 'Boy-Who-Lived' or the 'Saviour of the Wizarding World' or even Harry Potter. He was simply Harry. Neville had looked up to Harry in a way one could classify as a brotherly bond, always looking at how strong and powerful Harry seemed to be compared to him. How he could do no wrong, even though Neville was a day older than Harry, he still treated Harry like a little brother would treat his older brother.
Harry was everything Neville was not; Harry could stand up to Snape and walked with a quiet air of friendliness, compassion, and confidence. Neville was not any of that really. He had barely any magical power it seemed, He was always disappointing his Gran, always losing Gryffindor points in Potions and seemed like a great lout of a failure. Despite this however, Harry stuck by him and treated him like a close friend. Now, it was Neville's turn to repay some of that kindness by helping Harry out right now.