================================ Chapter Two ================================
My apologies for the long (extremely long!) wait. I lost motivation then got swarmed with high school. I'm going to try my best to update once a week. Thank you for all the reviews, and I hope you enjoy!
================================ Chapter Two ================================
** Neville POV **
Neville was frightened, righteously so. He couldn't believe the events of the last few hours. First, Harry's name had come out of the Goblet of Fire! As the fourth champion!
Then, Gryffindor had all turned against him. Harry was then kicked out of Gryffindor. And for some reason, Neville had left Gryffindor too! He couldn't believe he had done that! What would his gran say? She was proud of him for being a Gryffindor, and that was the only reason she was proud of him. Now, he wasn't a Gryffindor anymore, but.. but a Hufflepuff! His worst fear during the sorting was becoming a Hufflepuff, now he agreed to be one!
And now, an escaped prisoner was a teacher here?
And how did Dumbledore see them under the invisibility cloak?
Harry whipped the invisibility cloak off them, whispering "Mischief Managed" and folding up the map into his pocket.
He had never spoken to the Headmaster before, and he had never even seen him outside of the Great Hall.
He took a deep breath, "Professor Dumbledore, we have it on good authority that Professor Moody isn't who he says he is. It's actually Barty Crouch Junior."
The Professor's eyes widen, "How did they figure it out already?" he thought to himself. "Don't you worry my dear boy, he's definitely Alastor Moody. He answered all my questions correctly. Now off you go."
And then he saw the Headmaster's eyes widen once more. "Harry and Neville, my boys, why are your robes yellow? I thought you both were Gryffindors?"
Neville answered once again, "Those noble Gryffindors kicked Harry out of their house when they found out he was a champion, and I had no desire to stay in such a noble house so I left with him."
Dumbledore sighed. Now how would Hermione watch over them? "I beg you boys to reconsider. Everyone makes mistakes. Forgive them. Return to your house." There was nothing he could do if they didn't agree. He alone couldn't switch them back, he needed Sprout's, Neville's and Harry's approval.
"With all due respect sir, they obviously did not want us in their house, and we don't want to be in their house."
With that, Neville and Harry walked off, and once they passed the corner, they put the cloak back on and opened the map. "We have three hours until curfew, so let's hurry!" said Harry.
They made their way to the portrait as the twins had instructed. "There's no door! What do we do?"
Harry and Neville both stared at each other. "Maybe we have to reveal ourselves to the room?"
"But if Dumbledore can sense invisibility cloaks, can't the portraits?"
"It doesn't hurt to try."
"Here I'll go. It's probably better that you stay hidden," Harry nodded.
Neville ducked out of the invisibility cloak, and suddenly, he was visible once more.
Neville started pacing back and forth in front of where the door should be. It was his habit and eased his nervousness. "I need a room with a time function where I can train," he thought to himself, pondering how to get it.
** Harry POV **
All of a sudden, a door appeared. Harry took off the cloak and materialized next to Neville. "Great job!" he said, clapping him on the back.
"After you," he said, letting Neville lead the way. Merlin knows, the boy needed some kind of confidence.
He grasped the brass door handle and turned it. Inside, was a vast room, with a small table in the middle, with two comfortable chairs on both sides. The two boys walked for at least three minutes in silence, until they reached the table, each taking a chair. On the table was an envelope.
Harry, in his curiosity, grabbed an envelope and ripped it open. He looked apologetic before walking over to Neville so the two of them could read it at the same time.
The first was a letter of how to use the room. There was a dial in the center of the table, and you had to match the amount of time in the room to out of the room. They had three hours right now, and they needed to spend the most possible time before the next day. Harry turned the dial all the way up so that one hour in the room represented a month. They would have three months worth of training in the room.
The next was a letter from his dad. "Nev, do you mind if I read this alone first? You can read it after, it's just – this is the only thing from my dad."
Neville nodded understandably, he would want the same if his parents could leave him a letter.
Harry read the letter.
Dear Harry,
If you're reading this letter then you discovered the Room of Requirement. Congratulations on finding it!
I have returned to Hogwarts after graduating and you have been born eight months ago. Dumbledore has told us about the prophecy and I'd be surprised if he had already told you. So here it is:
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...
The prophecy could apply to either Neville, the Longbottom's boy, or you. I hope that it's not you… but if it is, it is important that you train. Learn everything you can, Prongslet. And you MUST learn Occlumency. You must protect the prophecy. Voldemort only knows the first half of the prophecy, do NOT let him learn the second half.
Now, about Dumbledore – I don't really trust him. He is a manipulative old goat. He placed a block on your magic a few days ago, claiming that "you were too powerful." You might want to check for any other blocks. The room will be able to help you.
Second, claim your lordship. He may not have told you, but you must do it. The goblins will be able to help you.
Third, don't trust McGonagall but trust Snape. Professor McGonagall was once a great head of house, but unfortunately, she fell in love with Dumbledore. She idolizes him, and it will be hard to break that. Snape, that slimy git, has been ensnared by Dumbledore. He has some spells on him that makes him loyal to Dumbledore. As much as I hated him in school, he's a good man. Tell him that Lily forgives him. And for what it's worth, tell him I'm sorry. The Room will be able to help you find out how to detect and remove blocks and loyalty charms etc.
Finally, know that I love you son. Voldemort is after us, and Dumbledore thinks we have a traitor on our side. I hope that I will be able to grow old and wise and watch after you, but only a fool would think that is possible. The war will last long. Train hard Harry, but have a life. Date. Play Quidditch (if you aren't already). Play pranks.
Mischief managed,
Prongs (your father)
Tears fell down Harry's cheeks. He wondered what else Dumbledore might have done. He handed the letter over to Neville, before asking the Room for a book on blocks.
Harry learned about the different types of blocks, and that there was a potion to brew. You would then add a drop of blood to the potion, and pour the potion over a sheet of paper. The blocks you had would appear on the paper.
Neville looked appalled and saddened by reading the letter. "He really loved you, Harry."
Harry nodded. "Listen, I think we should check both of us for blocks. It doesn't help to be careful. I know I have at least one block on more, and I wouldn't be surprised if our dear Headmaster placed one on you too."
Neville nodded. "I found a potion that helps you find blocks."
Harry asked the room for a cauldron and all of the ingredients appeared. "This room is bloody brilliant" exclaimed Neville.
Harry chuckled "I have to agree."
Harry and Neville tried hard and hard to brew the potion, but time after time, the potion and its contents exploded all over them.
"How am I supposed to know how to make this bloody potion?" they exclaimed after about the thirtieth try. Suddenly a stack of books on basic potion preparation for "dummies" appeared. They sighed but grinned and read the books. They followed the books instructions and soon Snape would have trouble criticizing them.
"Ready to try again Nev?"
Neville nodded, and they confidently diced, sliced, mixed, heated and stirred the potion with the correct technique. They grinned at each other at the final result, which had a color that the instructions had said. They had done it! Without Hermione!
Two pieces of parchment appeared and so did two vials. They spelled the potion to each vial and added a drop of their blood. They poured the potion over their parchment and it took a couple of minutes before the paper had legible words on it.
On Harry's parchment:
February 1981: Magic Block
50% of Magic restricted
November 1981: Loyalty Charm
Loyalty pledged to Albus Dumbledore
January 1983: Accidental Magic Block
November 1985: Natural Abilities Block
Animagus, Natural healing, occlumency, metamorphagus, Legilimency, photographic memory, learning blocked
September 1986: Magic Block
50% of Magic restricted
Warning: Core is at 25% - dangerously low!
September 1991: Magic Block
50% of Magic restricted
Warning: Core is at 12.5% - dangerously low!
September 1991: Hatred Charm
Hatred to Severus Snape
On Neville's parchment:
August 1980: Accidental Magic Block
February 1981: Magic Block
50% of Magic restricted
November 1981: Loyalty Charm
Loyalty pledged to Albus Dumbledore
November 1985: Natural Abilities Block
Animagus, Natural healing, occlumency, Legilimency blocked, learning, elemental blocked
September 1986: Magic Block
50% of Magic restricted
Warning: Core is at 25% - dangerously low!
September 1991: Magic Block
50% of Magic restricted
Warning: Core is at 12.5% - dangerously low!
September 1991: Hatred Charm
Hatred to Severus Snape
"Bloody Hell!"