14
Author's Note: I am extremely sorry about how long it is taking me to write this one chapter, but I worked fifty hours in my job last week, and I'm getting a new job next week, so I will be even more pressed for time. The good news is that I promise, really promise, to have the rest of this chapter out by tomorrow at 5 pm (It's 1 AM now) and that I'm currently (with two jobs working 12-14 hours a day) making 50,000 dollars a year at 18. The bad news, is that 12-14 hours a day is extremely draining (even though 8 of it is getting 10 bucks an hour to sit on my butt and lifeguard) and time-consuming and makes it really hard to find time to write this stuff. But I'm really excited about the number of reviews and I've got ideas flowing into my head like mad. In fact, I've already got the final chapter written, and I'm working my @$$ off trying to get it too you as soon as possible, because I love it and I KNOW you will too. Anyway, enjoy this third of chapter 4 and I promise to have the end of chapter 4 by 5 tomorrow.
PS. If any of you comment about an 18 year old Harry Potter fan, I might just decide to go back on my promise for 5 tomorrow. After all, 18 means better grammar (I think) and competent story-writing (so say the 61 reviewers for 3 and a 1/3 chapters).
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his surrounding characters belong to JK Rowling. And just because I make $50,000 a year doesn't mean you'll get any money out of me. I'm sorta using it on the essentials. You know…rent, food, water, playstations, cd's, tv's, the essentials.
Chapter 4: Thirteen (continued)
Harry's eyes fell to the floor as his anger swelled. 'He knows. Voldemort knows I take responsibility and suffer for Cedric's death. He knows that I will take responsibility and suffer for the deaths of my friends. They don't matter at all to him. They are just a way in which to torture me…' His thought was interrupted by the return of Dumbledore's voice.
"That is why we must take extra precautions to make sure that all of you are safe."
"But Neville…" cried Hermione.
The headmaster of Hogwarts finished her sentence for her, "Is far beyond our reach even in the small chance that he is still alive. We must protect those who are left." Harry's heart sank even deeper. When Albus Dumbledore was forced into the seemingly cruel and heartless task of cutting one's losses, you knew that truly horrible times were upon you.
"I must insist that all Hogsmeade visits be cancelled, and there will be no leaving the castle without an escort." Harry expected some reaction from the twins, but they remained quiet, still obviously recovering from shock. "There will be extra protections put up around the Burrow, and I ask that all of you stay at Hogwarts for Christmas." The group bobbed their heads with sorrowful nods.
"We are doing everything we can to find out what happened to Neville. A message is currently on its way to his grandmother. She will be coming here so that we may tell her what happened and try to find some information about Neville. I am afraid that this will come as quite a shock to her, and I ask that, when she asks to speak with you, you do so kindly and gently. We must try to comfort her as much as possible." The group nodded once again.
"What about Neville's parents?" asked Ron, who had never been told of the Longbottom's fate. Half of the room cringed at the question, Harry included. But Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny looked as though they didn't have a clue. Dumbledore explained the Longbottom's story and at the end "Hermione burst into tears once again, Ginny looked close to joining her, and Ron, Fred, and George looked somewhat dismally surprised. Apparently none of them had ever thought to ask Neville of his parents.
The children left Dumbledore's office with heavy hearts and returned to their common room. Their entrance was greeted with silence as the group received questioning looks from their fellow Gryffindors. But all questions were answered by the group's downcast heads and sorrowful faces. The crowd opened a passage before them and allowed the six to climb to their respective common room in complete silence. As Harry and Ron entered the fifth year boys' dormitory they heard several sobs emit from the Gryffindors in the common room.
The two young wizards remained silent for several hours without interruption, not wishing to bring up the topic of Neville, but not willing to talk of anything else. In midafternnon a school owl arrived, delivering Harry a letter from Dumbledore and then leaving. Harry read the letter and then silently passed the note to Ron.
Harry and Ron,
This message is to inform you that Mrs. Longbottom, Neville's grandmother, did not wish to see Neville's friends at the moment and has left Hogwarts for St. Mungo's, to visit Neville's parents. We know nothing new of Neville besides that he was put safely onto a King's Cross bound muggle taxi at approximately 9:00 AM September 1, and never entered platform nine and three quarters. We are trying our best to find out more but without much luck. There will be assembly at breakfast and then classes will resume. Please try to do the best that you can to continue learning.
Albus Dumbledore
As Ron read, Harry silently commended the Headmaster of Hogwarts for his decision to resume classes. The great deal f work promised to the fifth years due to owls might take their minds off the problems and hard times that faced them. After finishing, Ron looked up from the letter and finally spoke.
"Did you know about Neville's parents? He never spoke about them to me." Harry nodded. " Then why…"
"I was asked not to tell anyone," interrupted Harry. It was Ron's turn to nod. They were silent again for another few minutes before Dean and Seamus entered the room. Dean and Seamus sat on there respective beds and looked as if they were trying to get up the courage to ask about the situation. Harry decided not to wait for them. He explained about the party, about Voldemort's letter, and about Neville's disappearance. Dean and Seamus just sat and listened looking a bit stunned all the while. At the end, Seamus asked the final question of the night.
"So Neville is really…dead?"
"Dumbledore believes so." Was Harry's reply, and he closed his bed drapes and laid down, a single tear forming on his cheek. He heard three more sets of bed drapes closed as the other three followed suit. Harry finally went into a very unrestful sleep marred by dreams with Neville's screaming and the high, cold laughter of Lord Voldemort. By morning his nightwear would be soaked in a cold feverish sweat.
*******
Harry woke the next morning feeling as though he had not had any sleep at all. His eyes were bloodshot despite being closed for a more than average night's sleep, and his night clothes were drenched in sweat. As he dressed, he noticed that the other four beds in the room were empty, one permanently. He descended the stairs to the common room sickened by the previous day's memories, and wishing that when he entered the common room he would find that he had dreamed the entire incident and that Neville would be sitting in one of the armchairs near the fire, trying to figure out what he had forgotten at home, or possibly hopping around the room after his fleeing toad, Trevor.
But he received no such happy greeting. His eyes met with downcast faces and slumping figures, people wallowing in grief at the loss of one of their fellow Gryffindors. Hermione and the four Weasleys were being left alone in one of the corners of the room, and Harry walked over to join them.
"I was about to come get you," Ron said solemnly, "We have an assembly in the Great Hall in fifteen minutes. As he spoke many of the Gryffindors were leaving through the portrait hole. "Harry, are you all right? You look…worse than the rest of us." It was true. Despite the rest of the group's generally disgruntled and depressed look, Harry seemed as though he had faced all the horrors of his fifteen years in one night, and indeed he had.
"I'll be okay," said the tired, depressed, and overall overwhelmed figure of Harry Potter. "Just need to keep on going."
Hermione gave Ron a very worried look (which was returned) and then stated, "We really should leave for the assembly. Everyone else is already gone." All the other Gryffindors had filed out of the common room. Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys climbed through the portrait hole and descended toward the Great Hall.
Author's Note: Remember to review! Reviews encourage me to keep writing. Who will be next? Make your guesses, I'm not telling til 5 tomorrow.