A/N: Hey guys, I didn't include an A/N in the first chapter because I wanted to give you amazing readers an unadulterated opening. It's my first story so please leave a review for criticism or just to emphasize what worked :)! I'm also open to PMs if there's any suggestions or comments you don't want to post as a review.

I'd like to thank all the people that wrote amazing fics that inspired me to try to make my own, and my favorite person in the world just for being there as I type these chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, all characters/world elements in this fic thus far belong to J.K Rowling.

Stretto

Prologue Chapter 2

Memory 1

Neville fought the urge to puke as the feel of forced mind magic took its toll. As the scenery changed, a buzzing sound slowly crescendo-ed until it sounded like he was in the middle of an overgrown beehive.

He whipped his head around trying to regain his bearings but quickly realized there wasn't much to look at. A miasma of smoke and fog prevented Neville from seeing much in front of him, but as he got used to the surroundings he could clearly make out roughly rectangular shapes jutting out from the ground. Gravestones. As he walked to the nearest one, a shape flitted across his face and his eyes zeroed in on the reason for the buzzing.

Snitches. Thousands of them, all buzzing about the open graveyard.

Neville reached up and grabbed a random snitch from the air, tiny wings flapping valiantly to escape. On the surface of the snitch etched 1998-03-04 and the words "Diagon Alley".

This must be how his memories are kept.

As Neville explored the mindscape, he noticed that most of the snitches kept their distance from him. Whenever he walked in a direction only a few snitches dared come close, the rest stayed just beyond his reach. Their random movements didn't seem to be random at all, Neville realized.

He checked a few of the other nearby snitches and realized with a sinking heart that every one of them had a date and location coinciding with a Death Eater raid. A small part of him had hoped that the sightings of Harry leading raids on muggleborns was just lies, but considering how he has memories of every single one...Neville clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened.

Even if Harry made it out of this war, his crimes demanded at the minimum a lifetime in Azkaban. Subconsciously, Neville's objective shifted; no longer was he trying to find a way to bring the old Harry back. He steeled his nerves as he ran faster, looking for the earliest memory possible.

He needed to find a weakness in Harry. A way to bring him down, one way or another.

As he ran onwards, he noticed a particular snitch flying at a slower pace. It looked distinctly different from the others, bearing marks of rust and overuse. It's wings flapped with a dissonant tempo.

Neville lunged for it, fingers quickly closing around the snitch. Wings flapping uselessly, he read the date and time read March 20, 1998. Malfoy Manor Cellar.

As if it knew what it's holder wanted, a latch appeared. He took a deep breath and opened it.

Memory One

The snitch disappeared from his hand as the memory unfolded before his eyes. A prison cell in what appears to be a wine cellar formed before him. A figure in the cell sat against the wall, making twirly motions on the floor silently whilst humming a serene tune. With a pang, Neville recognized the small figure. Suddenly the door to the cellar opened, revealing the subject of his current dilemma.

"Luna."

The girl in the corner, blonde hair matted from days without proper care, lifted her head up to look at her visitor. Silvery eyes widened as she recognized the newcomer, but she made no effort to speak first.

"Look Luna, you don't have to be here. Your father, he's been printing these stories that Voldemort would rather not exist. If you could just convince him to close up shop then you can go home free."

Luna made no motion that she heard Harry's plea for a good minute, content with staring directly into Harry's green eyes. Neville grimaced as his vision adjusted to the dim lighting, revealing the condition that Luna was in. Bruises and long scabs covered every exposed limb, and her lips were cracked. Thankfully, nothing seemed damaged beyond repair but Neville could only imagine what someone like Bellatrix could do to her. Not all damage was skin-deep.

After what seemed like an eternity, Luna rasped quietly, "Wrackspurts follow your every move Harry."

"Damn it, Luna! This isn't the time for your fascination with creatures that don't exist! You don't belong here! If the Malfoys or the Carrows realize who they've caught you'll be tortured and flogged in the Great Hall!"

Luna got up and slowly made her way over to the bars separating them. Neville's heart clenched as he observed her limping motion, clearly as a result of a recent leg wound. She made a "come hither" motion to Harry, who obeyed it with narrowed eyes. She whispered softly into Harry's ear,

"Fate gave me this path to walk down like she gave you yours, I have no reason to disobey it. My dad's publication gives hope to those that need it in these times. I don't mind my role if it means others far stronger than me keep their heads up."

Harry let out an exasperated noise of frustration. Just as he was about to reply, sounds of shouting could be heard through the cellar door. He worriedly looked at the door and quickly made his way to see what the commotion was about. As he opened the door, Luna suddenly spoke up,

"Do come visit again, it often gets lonely here."

Neville felt his feet get swept up as if carried by a wind, signifying the end of the memory. However, nothing compared to the whirlwind in his head as he tried to wrap his head around Harry's reaction. It seemed completely detached from how Harry had been in their one-sided duel. This Harry almost seemed like the one he went to school with.

Suddenly, a second snitch formed in his hand, clasp already opened. Neville barely managed to read the label before the scenery started shifting.

March 26, 1998. Malfoy Manor Cellar.

Memory Two

As soon as his feet planted on the ground, Neville knew that it was the same location. However, the memory was clearly not the same one since the cell had a second occupant. Like last time, Harry came through the cellar door at the start, this time holding two trays of food. He spared no attention to the second occupant as he went to the food slot.

"Here's your food, Luna.", he said quietly.

Luna eyed her lunch with a hungry gleam. She took the proffered tray without a sound but paused when Harry retreated the second tray from them, placing it away from the jail cell. Her gaze darted from Harry to the other occupant in the room who watched them through a messy cascade of frizzled hair. Understanding quickly dawned on her as she realized the reason behind Harry's conflicted gaze.

"You-Know-Who wants something from Mr. Ollivander.", Luna stated. Harry's expression turned into a stony non-expressive one in response. His silence confirmed Luna's suspicions more than anything he could've said. Luna took another look at Ollivander, seemingly made up her mind, and offered the tray. Ollivander shook his head as if to refuse but Luna shoved it into his hands.

"Here. We can share this."

Harry interjected, "It's enchanted. Only one person can eat from each tray. Mr. Ollivander would be poisoned if he ate from yours."

Ollivander stopped, looking at the tray as if it had grown heads. Luna let out a deep sigh and turned to Harry, "Are they labelled? If I don't eat from this, will Ollivander be able to?"

Harry's emotionless demeanour cracked as he got the implication, "Luna, you don't mean to—"

"Thanks for answering Harry.", Luna said and shoved the tray into Ollivander's hands. He looked up at the girl in shock, "Wha—but this means you'll go hungry for the day! I can't impose on you the consequences of my own actions."

Luna took the first thing from the tray, a deceptively delicious-looking roasted turkey leg, and shoved it into Ollivander's mouth. Harry shouted as Ollivander was forced to bite on the turkey, "NO!"

Harry's shoulders slumped as the tray glowed, signifying the activation of the charm. Luna gave him a triumphant gaze despite her stomach growling to indicate that it was anything but a win.

A moment of silence occurred down in the cellar as Harry sat down, interrupted only by the sounds of chewing. Neville clearly saw that something was bothering Harry, judging from his fidgeting. Something that he desperately wanted to talk to Luna about.

Eventually Harry caved and broke the silence, "Luna...your father was killed yesterday. Snatchers found him with Ron and Hermione."

Harry paused, waiting for a reaction from the imprisoned girl. However, when it became clear that none were forthcoming, he continued, "He put up a fight to buy time for them to get out, but lost his life in the end. When Ron and Hermione get caught, Bella will bring them here as a sort of showpiece for Voldemort. Afterwards, they're going to die for their crimes as well."

Luna looked up. She earnestly looked into Harry's eyes as if searching for something within the emerald depths, eyes jerking from left to right in a staccato tempo. Her shoulder sagged a bit and she turned her gaze to the floor, hair falling loosely around her face.

"You're not going to stop them, are you?"

Harry looked incredulously at the girl. Luna continued softly, not really looking for a reply from him, "The Wrackspurts infestation you've been victim to must have clouded your vision — the old you would have dove in head first to get them to safety. I know someone that can help with your ailment, I'll take you to them later."

Luna then stood back up and stretched her back, "So, I thought you said I'd be free if my dad stopped printing those articles? Surely there is no better way to stop someone from doing something than killing them."

Harry looked at her with something between guilt and sorrow, "Sorry, he said he still has to keep you in here. He thinks you'll be a flight risk with your father dying and all."

Whatever Neville expected to see, he hadn't expected to see Luna start laughing hysterically. From Harry's expression, he didn't either. Eventually the laughter subsided, ripples of mirth still shaking her body from time to time as she said, "Harry, did you really think he ever planned on letting me go?"

"No, but—"

Luna interrupted him commandingly, although Neville wasn't quite sure how she managed to do that considering how she never raised her voice,"Harry. When we heard that the Death Eaters were looking to stop the Quibbler, I already knew they were coming for us. My father still kept printing his articles just as how I still took up the role of co-leader of Dumbledore's Army. We knew we'd be risking our lives for this."

Harry opened his mouth as if to say something, but thought better of it. A burp from where Ollivander was sitting caused everyone present (Neville included) to jump and stare at the wandmaker who swiftly adopted a 'house-elf dropping priceless heirloom' look.

"Ah, I'm sorry. The food was fantastic."

Harry's looked darkened and he hissed in the most poisonous tone possible, "That was not meant for you. Give that tray back."

Ollivander, frightened at the sudden change in demeanour, hurriedly passed the mostly empty tray back to Harry without a word. Harry turned and left, pausing as he caught Luna's concerned gaze. Whatever words exchanged, Neville wasn't privy to. The appearance of a third snitch prevented him from dwelling on it either.

March 29th, 1998. Malfoy Manor.

Memory Three

Neville squinted, eyes getting used to the sudden change in lighting. The dim glow of the cellar was replaced with a rather shiny daytime sun. An opulent manor, at least four stories tall, loomed before him.

" - we found them first, the gold-",

"The gold?! Hah, you can take the gold you mangy wolf! I only seek the honor of -"

Neville stiffened at the voices that appeared behind him. The vague figures of several people coalesced into life. While he didn't recognize most of them, Neville's wand hand inadvertently clenched as he came face to face with the heavily-lidded eyes of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Of what, Lestrange?", a new voice appeared. Bellatrix's entire demeanour shifted from arrogant excitement to irritation as Harry strode over, green eyes glinting.

"What are you doing here Potter?", she asked.

Harry retorted haughtily, "The years in Azkaban must have damaged your memory retention. I've been assigned here for the past week to take care of any prisoners we get. More to the point I call the shots here, Lestrange. I heard you got a few prisoners, these better be more worth it than some newspaper editor's daughter and a rickety old wandmaker."

Bellatrix glared at Harry. Her disdain for the teen was clear but her self-preservation instincts prevented her from making any direct challenge. She huffed and looked back at the man in front of her. Suddenly, a face-splitting smirk spread across her face and she purred, "Be that as it may, I think you'll be happy to hear we caught your Mudblood and blood traitor friends. The same ones you 'disavowed' months ago.".

An indignant growl came from the man that went ignored up until now, "Oi-we?! Me and Scabior caught'em! You glory ho—"

His rant cut off as a flash of light erupted from Bellatrix's outstretched wand, felling the man in a split second. His companions whipped their wands out but a quick look at Bellatrix's hungry gaze involuntarily stilled them.

"Oh? I'd love for you to finish that sentence, Fenrir.", she said while mock-fluttering her eyes. Neville involuntarily shuddered, goosebumps trailing down his spine.

A flicker of irritation went through Harry's facial expression as he said coldly, "Don't waste time, Lestrange. Greyback, where's the captives?"

Bellatrix interjected with a smirk before Greyback could open his mouth, "They'll be here soon enough, heir. Why don't you make yourself useful and clear a space in the cellar for the newcomers?"

A colorful swear died on the tip of his tongue as Harry settled with a glare and strode off to the manor. As he went, Bellatrix called out to him, "Perhaps you can be the one to interrogate them for Master? Wouldn't want to delay your reunion with them!"

Neville didn't notice the way Harry's eyes glinted as he muttered, "I wouldn't either."

This time, Neville almost expected for the fourth snitch to come into his hand. While he knew experienced Legilimencers could find the memory that they wanted in a heartbeat, he wasn't one by a long stretch. The fact that he was getting these memories in particular as opposed to, say, Harry getting a haircut meant that someone had purposefully manipulated his memories to appear in sequence. Considering his options, Neville couldn't help but get suspicious and a little wary.

The appearance of another snitch interrupted his trepidation.

March 30th, 1998. Malfoy Manor Basement.

Memory Four

If he was a lesser man Neville would have screamed in exasperation by now. However, Neville could wait. When Dumbledore had shown him, Ron, and Hermione the memories of Voldemort's past, it had taken them multiple memories in order for them to piece together the locations of all the horcruxes. All but one, which Dumbledore had a guess but never revealed prior to that fateful night at the Astronomy Tower.

The lighting dimmed as a familiar cellar scene appeared. Neville couldn't help but gasp as the forms of Ron and Hermione coalesced within it, curled up in fetal position. Their bodies spasmed occasionally with bouts of clear Cruciatus-induced aftershocks.

Unlike the last two cellar scenes, Harry was actually there from the start of this scene, arguing with a taller man. The taller man eventually growled and spun around, exiting the cellar with a dangerous glare. Clearly, he wasn't done with their disagreement.

Harry sighed and his tense shoulders relaxed a bit as he walked over to the two people in fetal positions. Luna crawled her way over to the closer of the two, Ron in this case.

"You two look worse and worse off every time we meet.", she said matter-of-factly as she brushed some dried blood out of Ron's hair.

Ron groaned in pain as the dried blood pulled on a freshly-formed scab on his head. Luna retracted her hand immediately, looking remorseful. Changing tack, she ripped a piece of fabric off her clothes and poured some water from her water bowl. Using the wet rag she began wiping the blood out of Ron's face. Not leaving Hermione out, she slid over to get into a position between the two and made a new rag to wipe her face as well.

Luna began humming a tune as she rocked the two, not unlike a mother would to her feverish child. Neville recognized the tune as something from a muggle composer, although he'd be lying if he said he knew from who. It had a conversational lilt to it, but Neville couldn't deny that it sounded melancholic.

"They can't hear or feel you, Lestrange placed a Sensory Deprivation charm on them before they got here.", Harry whispered softly, his eyes never leaving Luna's face.

Luna shook her head, "It's not about whether they know I'm here or not, they're my friends. What kind of friend would I be if I left them during their moment of vulnerability?"

Harry pursed his lips and looked away. An awkward pause, interrupted only by the unique timbre of Luna's humming, took place. As her song came to a slow and somber end, the silence strong-armed its way into the room, grabbing hold of all it's occupants.

Luna ended up being the one to break from the grip first, "What did the man from earlier want?"

Harry lowered his gaze, "They're assigning me to lead a raid later today. Bellatrix will take over as warden while I'm away."

It was clear from his tone that he didn't like it. Luna, too, picked it up and she asked, "You don't want to leave us? Or you don't want to kill innocent people?"

Harry didn't immediately reply. Luna didn't expect him to either. Nevertheless, she pressed on, asking the one question that Neville was dying to find out,

"Harry, why DID you decide to join Voldemort that day at the Department of Mysteries?"

Harry opened his mouth to answer, but suddenly the cellar door banged open. The man from earlier shouted from the doorway, "Potter! Your group has assembled! Portkey is in a minute!", and then shut the door.

Harry took one look at Luna, his expression looking equal parts conflicted and relieved at the interruption. He made his way quickly to the door but paused at the door. Turning back, he waved his wand at the two forms at Luna's lap and muttered, "Finite", and left.

Right before the memory ended, Neville saw the brown eyes of Hermione flutter open. He swore under his breath as the memory passed without having actually answering any questions he had. Mercifully, a fifth snitch formed in his hand, wings fluttering slowly. However, just as he felt the snitch begin to open, he heard someone move behind him. Quickly, he shut his hand to prevent the snitch from opening.

"Who are you?", a voice said from behind. A very familiar one.

Neville immediately whirled around, unoccupied hand cocked and ready to deck him, only to pause at the sight in front of him.

It was Harry, appearing just like he did in the fifth year. However, he was missing a right arm from the shoulder down. Black speckles fluttered and fizzled out ephemerally from the gaping hole. His emerald green eyes, the brightest green Neville has ever seen and untouched by dark magic's red hue, were narrowed dangerously at Neville.

"Who are you? How did you get your hands on a snitch?"