Chapter Two: 5 Days Later
Summary: Neville visits his parents at St. Mungo's Hospital after the Second Wizarding War had been won. They had finally been avenged with the death of Bellatrix, Rodophus, and Rabastan Lestrange.
Set five days after Book Seven, Chapter Thirty-Six. T/W: Mental disorders. Murder.
Characters/Pairings: A Neville focused story featuring both Frank and Alice Longbottom. No pairings.
Neville made the familiar journey to a large, red brick department store called Purge and Dowse Ltd. He ignored the dusty sign stating it was closed for refurbishment and went straight over to the window display of a dishevelled-looking female dummy.
"I'm here to see Frank and Alice Longbottom," he whispered.
The dummy gave a tiny nod and beckoned its finger to come forward. Neville stepped through the glass and vanished, appearing on the other side in a crowded reception hall of St. Mungos. He walked past the witches and wizards sporting odd ailments to push through the double doors beside the inquiry desk.
Neville made his way to the fourth floor marked 'Spell Damage' and headed towards the door of the Janus Thickey ward.
"Alohomora," he cast as the doors swung open.
Ensuring that the door was locked behind him, he made a beeline to the corner of the ward ignoring the other long-term residents. He grabbed the flowery curtains and drew them around the beds to give them some privacy. His parents looked over at the disturbance and then continued to hum to themselves unaware of the news that he would bring.
Neville pulled a grey visiting chair over to the beds and placed it in-between them. He felt shaky and tired but relieved all at the same time. The last few days had been a hectic mess.
Although they had won the war, The Battle of Hogwarts had cost them dearly. Fifty lives were lost that day with even more injured. Some of the casualties included Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Lavender Brown, and Colin Creevey (the youngest victim of the battle whose lifeless body invaded his dreams at night), to name just a few.
During the fight, Bellatrix Lestrange died at the hands of Molly Weasley whilst her husband Rodophus Lestrange had been incapacitated and promptly arrested the same night. Rabastan Lestrange who initially evaded the Order and Dumbledores Army was eventually sought out and detained. Both were brought before the Wizengamot, the high court of law and enforcement, along with several other rogue Death Eaters. They were sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss, a fate worse than death.
Neville forced himself to witness the punishment. He watched as the Dementor pulled back its hood, clamp its jaw around their mouths and consume both Rodophus and Rabastan's souls. He felt nothing at the empty shells it left alive. It had taken seventeen years but his parents were finally avenged. Their torturers were gone.
"Mum, Dad," he addressed his parents, "The war is over. We won."
He waited to see if they would react or at least acknowledge that they understood. Alice continued to hum as Frank stared at the ceiling unaware of anything around him.
"You've been avenged. Bellatrix, Rodophus, and Rabastan Lestrange are gone. They've been defeated."
Maybe it was his imagination but Alice appeared to hum louder. A small part of him hoped that they understood but he had learnt a long time ago that his parents would never recover. He had spent years thinking about revenge. How he wanted to be the one to deal the final blow.
Now all he felt was emptiness and a dull anger in the pit of his stomach. The war was over. Good triumphed over evil. Yet, his parents would continue to suffer. They'd spend the rest of their lives in this ward, minds addled beyond repair. He wanted to scream until his voice was raw or grab the nearest item and fling it against the wall.
Neville didn't notice that he was breathing erratically. He didn't even look up as Alice approached him and made a timid motion towards Neville. When the empty Droobles Blowing Gum wrapper dropped into his lap, he finally felt his barriers break. Tears cascaded down his cheek as he cried. He mourned for the fallen casualties, for the broken families, and for his parents and their lost futures.