Hermione, Ron, and Harry leaned on one of the nearby beds in the hospital wing while Madam Pomfrey tended to Jade's cut hand. Pomfrey was growing increasingly irritated as Jade continually prodded the open wound amusedly whenever the nurse adverted her eyes to load up her swab with more antiseptic.
"Ouch."
"Stop that."
"Ow."
"Stop that."
"Ow."
"Ms. Cordonnier! If you will please cease and desist!" With a stiff smile, Jade's hand dropped away, and she merely stared at the goop-covered cut. Pomfrey turned to them, tray in hand.
"You three keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn't contaminate that antiseptic with her grubby fingers. It's got to be clean if I'm going to heal it." With a final rather exasperated glance at Jade, she bustled towards her office on the opposite end of the ward.
"I can't believe it!" Ron muttered as Pomfrey disappeared behind the half closed door. "Snape letting class out early, Dumont having a mental attack…is everyone going mad?"
"Probably," Jade said touching a bit of congealed blood on her wrist.
"Just Dumont I think," Hermione replied. "The way she grabbed you—don't touch that."
"I'm not," Jade replied defiantly, wincing a bit.
"Hermione, remember the—?" Harry began but was promptly stopped by a warning look from her. He quickly shut his mouth, remembering their agreement to not tell Jade about Dumont and Price's relation.
"What is it?" Jade asked curiously, attention finally drawn away from the cut on her hand. The three looked at each other uneasily. Luckily, they were saved any prolonged awkwardness by the sharp ringing of the bell.
"It looks like she's going to be awhile," Jade said, dropping the subject and staring in the direction of the nurse's office. "You all should go to lunch."
"No, we'll wait," Hermione insisted.
"Don't bother," she replied prodding the flap of webbing between her forefinger and thumb, earning a reproving look from Hermione. "You don't want to risk missing lunch." As if seconding that, Ron's stomach rumbled.
"It's settled then."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked her.
"Yeah go," Jade persisted. "Make sure to save me some food."
After a bit more insisting, they obliged and left the hospital wing, ambling slowly towards the Great Hall. The corridors were nearly deserted, and from a distance they could hear sounds of laughter.
"Mental trauma," Harry muttered as they walked, shucking off his robes for the halls were steadily growing warmer. "You don't think—?"
"Yes, I do," Hermione said. "I think Dumont's mental state was why she and her brother left Hogwarts."
"But she's a professor," Ron replied. "Dumbledore hired her! He wouldn't hire a nutter!"
"Are you really sure about that?" Ron stopped and turned to face Hermione, arms crossed over his chest. She blinked at him, awaiting his answer.
"No."
Harry had faith in Dumbledore, entrusted his life as well as the lives of his godfather and friends to the Headmaster. But Dumbledore did hire Alastor Moody, why wouldn't he hire a woman who'd gone potty?
"Maybe that's why she seems to lack a few screws," Ron contemplated. "There's no doubt she's bloody brilliant, but she couldn't stay on topic to save herself."
"If you ask me, she's seems a bit suspicious," Hermione said quietly. "The way she was sneaking around the school, constantly conversing with Snape about Dumbledore's proposed plans and such."
"Snape," Harry said, suddenly very keen on searching every pocket. "My letter from Snuffles." He extracted the envelope from his robes, and quickly glanced down either side of the hall to make sure that they were alone. Slipping his finger beneath the flap, he ripped it open, dropping the blank and empty envelope as he unfurled the letter.
"What's it say?" Ron asked. Harry's face paled as his eyes scrolled down the rather short length of parchment.
"Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked looking worried. "Is Padfoot all right?"
"They were," he muttered under his breath. "Oh god, they were."
"Who were?" Ron said.
"I've got to speak to someone who remembers," Harry said between shallow breaths hastily making his way down the hall. "Dumbledore…he'll know."
"Know what?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide with trepidation.
"Come on!"
Harry dashed down the corridor towards the Great Hall, Ron and Hermione right behind him. His heart was pounding as he descended the marble staircase…if it was true, it meant—he had to know if—
"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry said ignoring the curious stares of students who watched as he swept up to the high table. "You've got to tell me—,"
"What is it Mr. Potter?" the Headmaster asked easily before Professor McGonagall could tell him off for being so rude. Hermione and Ron were right behind him, glancing at the faces that now turned their way.
"Yes Harry?" Dumbledore asked. Harry didn't know where to start. He tried to wet his palate, and only then did he notice the Great Hall was nearly filled with students watching him with interest.
"I need to speak to you," he finally managed, lowering his voice. "Please, in private." McGonagall stared at him with a dangerously arched eyebrow, but Dumbledore didn't question him. He simply pushed his chair back from the table, motioning for him to follow. Harry sucked in a deep breath and trailed after the tall, wizened form to a side chamber off the Great Hall. Once inside, he recognized it as the very chamber he was asked to enter after his name was extracted from the Goblet of Fire. Without needing him to even make the request, Dumbledore politely asked the subjects of the portraits that decorated the walls to leave. The Headmaster turned towards Harry, as the last painted figure departed, smiling kindly at Hermione and Ron who had followed their friend.
"I think I am safe to assume that what you have to tell me, Harry is of utmost importance," Dumbledore said, "as Ron has chosen to forgo lunch."
"My parents were Aurors," Harry blurted out, not even considering what exactly he wanted to say or know. "Sirius wrote me and told me so." Dumbledore was silent for a moment as he stood in the afternoon light that streamed from the windows, looking as if he were anticipating Harry's intentions.
"They were," he finally said. "Two of the best. But Sirius had made it very clear that he wished you not to know." Ron and Hermione swallowed uncomfortably behind Harry, the sound quite loud in the hushed chamber.
"I—I know," Harry started. "But I found out, and I need you to tell me some things."
"I will tell what I can," Dumbledore replied, twinkling eyes blinking wisely.
Harry sucked in a deep breath, struggling for a starting point.
"Were you at a party with my parents?" he managed. "It was spring, and they had just resigned. Sirius was there, and so was Professor Lupin…and the Longbottoms—,"
"The Longbottoms?" Hermione asked quietly.
"What are you saying—," Dumbledore began, with knitted brow.
"You were in a Hawaiian shirt," Harry continued. "It was brilliant orange with pink flowers."
"But how?"
Harry's chest was heaving now.
"Their last mission," he said a bit difficultly. "They were after something, some sort of amulet…in a cave. My dad broke his leg. Professor Dumbledore, you have to tell me…did these things happen?" Dumbledore was staring at him with a mixed expression of surprise and understanding.
"Yes."
It wasn't until air exploded from his lungs did Harry realize he had been holding his breath. The dreams were real. They were his window into his parent's lives. Suddenly very light headed, his knees gave a little and Ron and Hermione steadied him as he gazed up at the Headmaster.
"How did you know Harry?" the old man asked gently.
"I saw it," he began, promptly stopping to look at his friends who each had a firm grip on one of his arms. "In my dreams…I saw pieces of their lives."
"Harry," Hermione gasped.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked weakly, shaking his arm a bit.
"I thought the dreams were nothing," Harry protested. "At first, but after seeing my parents as Aurors and getting a confirmation that they were…god, the dreams are real."
"Harry," Dumbledore said suddenly looking a bit concerned. "Are these dreams at all like the ones you had last year? Did they make your scar burn?" Harry shook his head.
"No, they're…for the most part, pleasant…sometimes they're frightening…but never threatening…not like the dreams about Voldemort." The Headmaster peered into his eyes as if trying to glimpse the images for himself.
"A chance to see your parents' lives, as they should be," he murmured quietly. "It must be a gift."
"But how Professor?" Hermione asked looking anxiously at Harry. "How can we be sure they aren't a warning of danger?"
"I'm not completely certain," Dumbledore replied. "I may be an old codger, but I have yet to understand all the mysteries of the world. I suppose a powerful combination of Harry's own experiences allowed him to access these visions. As for being a sign of danger, as long as he sees them as non-threatening, I believe they're not. I can not even pretend to know why you've been given this chance, Harry, but now that you know these dreams are true and non-threatening, I see no reason for any change in your daily excursions." Still slightly amazed by the conformation, Harry looked up into the smiling, wrinkled face and saw the familiar blue eyes dance with a brilliant spark that seemed absent earlier in the year.
"I think you three should go make something of lunch," the Headmaster said kindly. "Like the Weasley twins, they make something out of lunch all the time…given it's usually something that explodes..." A grin formed on Harry's face and he turned to lead Ron and Hermione out of the chamber, feeling a little more complete.
"Thank you, Professor," he said as he reached for the brass handle of the door.
"Not at all," Dumbledore replied before adding, "keep these dreams as a gift, Harry…but the moment they turn even remotely menacing, tell me right away."
* * *
A few days later, Ron, Hermione, and Harry were sitting alongside Jade, Seamus, and Dean at the Gryffindor table for breakfast. He had just sent a letter the night before to Sirius, aware of his godfather's worry that he would develop a thirst for his parents' cause, and assuring him that would not be the case. Harry was for the fight against Voldemort, there was no doubt about that, but he was not looking to get himself killed. He knew deep down that at a drop of a hat, however, he'd step up for another face-off with the Dark Lord in the name of his parents, and the many others who had died or suffered equally worse fates. But he wasn't a brainless git, and he thought Sirius would feel a bit better if he reminded him of that. It was also quite hard to concentrate on trivial matters such as the Dark Lord with so many things suddenly demanding his attention.
"So there's no way you're going to do the Healing Arts class?" Hermione asked Seamus forking the last chipolata onto her plate.
"Nothing doing," he replied rather glumly. "Sprout says I can't miss a single lesson…me barely making marks and O.W.Ls looming on the horizon." Harry and Ron groaned and glanced at each other. Neither had been studying as hard as they should have been.
"Those little study packets are dead useful," Hermione murmured giving a meaningful glance in their directions. "Work wonders if you actually do them." In retaliation, Ron speared the chipolata off her plate and devoured it. She glared at him, mouth agape, and ready to tell him off before being interrupted by Jade.
"If you're not going, Seamus," she said. "That means there's an opening."
"There are loads of people who wanted to go," Harry added. The sound of splashes and groans drew their attention further down the table. Neville had some how managed to drop his books in a large tureen, showering Ginny and her fourth year friend with porridge. Hermione stood up and turned to help them as McGonagall hustled forward, a cleaning charm on hand. Neville smiled apologetically, his entire being revealing his anxiety. For the past month or so, he could be seen shuffling nervously about the castle with his nose glued to every sort of O.W.L study materials imaginable.
"I think Neville should go," Dean said wincing as the round-faced boy rested his elbow in a plate of kippers. "Man, he looks like a holiday would do him right." Harry didn't say anything, knowing very well that Neville's parents were in St. Mungo's and a holiday there most certainly wouldn't do him well.
Hermione sat down with them again and they quietly agreed to not announce the soon-to-be opening in the Magical Medicine class just yet, as a mass flutter of wings announced the arrival of post. Two letters dropped before Harry as Hedwig gracefully landed on his shoulder, careful to not knock him in the head with her wings. Pigwideon's landing was far less graceful: he managed to bean Ron square in the forehead.
"Stupid little git," Ron muttered, fishing out the little twittering owl, which had bounced off his head straight into his cereal bowl. Harry laughed receiving a glare from Ron as he opened his first letter.
Dear Attending Student,
It is so very refreshing to see young people, like yourself showing so much interest in programs such as this informative venture into the Healing Arts. You have successfully signed up for this two session class, which will be held on two consecutive days: one day of preparatory lessons, the other a field trip to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies, Britain's most respected wizarding center of medicine. The lessons will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week. You will meet in the lecture hall located on the third floor in the east wing. Further information will be given along with your lesson.
Sincerely,
Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey
"I'm sorry mate," Dean said apologetically to Seamus who looked particularly glum.
"So am I," Seamus muttered, opening his own mail. Harry ripped open his second letter, scanned the contents and looked up to find nearly all students, third year and up, murmuring with excitement.
Dear Mr. Potter,
As promised by the staff of Hogwarts, the respectable tailors of Hogsmeade and Beacon Row will create a formal suit for you and the rest of the young men for the Spring Promenade. Your measurements will be taken according to year and house. Your time is set for: The last Thursday of April, 6 p.m.
Sincerely,
Hogwart's Staff
"We're going to get gowns made!" Jade said happily. Obviously her fears of attending a dance were ebbed away by Fred and George's incessant praise of last year's ball. For Ron and Harry, however, the fear had returned in full measure…well, more for Ron anyway, as Harry knew exactly who was going to be his partner. He'd still have to ask Cho though, which didn't fail to send his stomach through a twisting flop.
"Come on," Hermione said. "Honestly, it's hardly anything to get into a flap about. Look at Dean and Seamus." Both were grinning broadly talking about whom they were planning on asking.
"Well best you two gripe on the way to Care for Magical Creatures," Jade added, pushing back from the table and stuffing one last slice of toast whole into her mouth, before adding thickly "Weh-gonna-beh-late."
"Jade," Hermione replied annoyed. "Must you talk with food in your—wait, Care of Magical Creatures? What's today?"
"Friday," Ron said flatly. "What's got your knickers in a bunch?"
"Friday," Hermione breathed.
"Very good," Harry said. "You're catching on."
"No," she said, fear screaming from her round eyes. "That means we're testing today— for our…our—,"
"Certification of Broomstick Use," Neville completed as he walked toward them. He was looking considerably pale, standing there attempting to keep a firm hold on all of his books.
"I've been studying so hard for O.W.Ls I completely forgot," Hermione muttered sounding quite pained.
"Will you both relax?" Jade huffed irritably. "You two have been complaining about flying since before the ruddy broomstick. Really, you'll both do fine." The ringing of the bell signaled their need to hurry to make it to their next class. They dashed across grounds in the warm, spring weather, Jade considerably light-hearted, Harry and Ron mulling over the fast approaching dance, and Neville and Hermione keen on finding a way out of flying today.
"Right then, I think its 'bout time we check how yeh morders are doin'," Hagrid said with a huge grin beaming from behind his wiry beard. "Being tha' they've been left ter do their spinnin' fer the past couple o' weeks, I think they should be ready." He winked at Harry as he passed. Harry along with Ron, Hermione, Jade, and the rest of the class were standing in front of the wooden shelters they had put together weeks ago for the silk morders.
"I hope that's been long enough for them to die," Malfoy muttered when Hagrid was out of earshot.
"Get a finger stuck up your conk," Harry hissed.
"Lick a boot, Scarhead."
"Now, I've given each one of yeh crowbars," Hagrid was saying as he passed them again. "Yeh've got to gently pry the wood off. Take care you mind the morders, they may be a bit cranky. And don' tear your silk!"
"Bit cranky?" Ron croaked. He eyed Harry uneasily who could only offer a very weak smile. The class was silent, the students staring anxiously at their wooden structures, each taller than Ron and containing a potentially "cranky" monster. Well, Harry considered, Hagrid was true to his word about the morder's gentleness before…
"Well, get to it, now," Hagrid urged. The class didn't move. Hermione was the first to build up enough courage to plunge her crowbar beneath a plank and pry it off. Seeing that a creature did not leap from the hole to devour one of her limbs, the class followed suit as Hagrid walked back and forth offering his help. Harry laughed as Jade managed to catapult a considerably sized plank straight into her own forehead while Ron danced quickly back each time he broke down more of his structure. Hermione looked quite dangerous hacking away toward her silk morder…most likely pouring all her concentration into that task to escape the anxiety of flying later that day. At last a strange hissing sound emitted from her dismantled shelter and she leapt away, brandishing the crowbar like a sword. The cat-sized silver creature crawled from the structure's remains and circled lazily in the bright sunlight.
"Oh," Hermione whispered dropping to her knees before her broken-down shelter. From it she pulled out what looked like a liquid-esq fabric, deep cranberry in color. The light caught the material making it come to life in her hands, emblazing the beautiful tone so that it looked like the setting sun. Parvati, Lavender, and several Slytherin girls, forgetting their own prospective silk, pressed in on her, reaching out to touch the beautiful fabric. Even Malfoy was in awe of its beauty.
"I told yeh the silk was nice, didn't I?" Hagrid said happily walking over to pick up the sun-basking morder. "Well, go on, yeh each probably have silk too, yeh know. Hermione, it looks like you get high marks!"
Sure enough, each morder produced wonderful silk for their caretakers. Jade's was dark blue, but reflected emerald green, while Harry's turned out to be a very pale, creamy gold, and Ron's a dramatic indigo. At the class's end, their marks were given on the grade of the silk.
"These will make lovely gowns," Paravati said sighing. Lavender agreed fingering her (what a coincidence) lavender colored silk. The Slytherins and Gryffindors departed for the castle to safely stow away their treasure, many admiring Hagrid's skill with the silk morders (except Malfoy, but he was unusually quiet which will be considered a compliment).
After dropping off their silk, the Gryffindors returned to the grounds as Hermione's good mood, which was the result of the wonderful fabric, took a bad turn.
"Listen Hermione," Harry said reassuringly. "It's just another exam."
"That runs the risk of death!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, only if you fall off your broomstick," Jade replied. Harry glared at her and she made an expression that clearly asked 'What'd I say?'
"Come on Neville, why not?" Seamus was asking as he approached. He and Dean were following Neville who was steadily picking up his pace.
"I…I need to study for the O.W.Ls," Neville replied.
"What's going on?" Ron asked curiously. Dean sighed and threw up his hands.
"Just trying to get Neville to sign up for the opening in that Healing Arts thing."
"I'm just not interested," Neville inserted quietly.
"I thought you said you needed to study for O.W.Ls!" Seamus said exasperatedly.
"I did…I mean, I do. But I'm also not interested."
"Come on mate, we didn't tell anyone because we thought you deserved a holiday most." Harry looked from Dean and Seamus to Neville's pained face. Nobody else knew about his parents.
"Come off it," Harry said to them earning him a grateful smile from Neville. "He doesn't want to go, I'm sure someone else does."
"But why wouldn't he?" Dean asked. "It's practically two days off from school!"
"Dean, please," Hermione said noticing Neville's look of discomfort, and stomping on Ron's foot to prevent him from seconding Dean's question. They walked in silence towards the pitch where brooms were lined up near one of the barriers and several obstacles of floating rings and beams were already in the air. Cho was speaking to Madam Hooch, and was apparently there to help in the certifying, as she had received her certificate last year. She smiled and waved when she spotted Harry and he grinned back enthusiastically. When the fifth year Ravenclaws and Gryffindors were lined up side by side (Mandy Brocklehurst managing to insert herself between Hermione and Ron), Madam Hooch stepped out before them, pulling on dragon hide gloves.
"Now you all worked hard," she said. "And from what I've seen, you'll all pass"—at this Hermione whimpered a bit—"Now I'll call you up one by one, and you will perform the test that I've provided." She pointed towards the floating rings and beams.
"You will be granted points according to how well you do said obstacles. Good luck." And with that, Cho called out names and one by one they completed their flying test. Harry zoomed through in record time, only fumbling after he finished when Cho let out a little cheer. Ron did nearly as well, and surprisingly so did Neville: he only had two near accidents. Jade preformed well enough, and landed to wish Hermione luck. She shakily got onto her broom, nothing short of a ball of nerves and began. She nearly fell off trying to pass the first ring.
"Come on, Hermione," Ron muttered. She missed another. He winced, before cupping his hands to his mouth.
"GO HERMIONE!" he began shouting at the top of his lungs. "KICK SOME BLOODY BUM!"
"Mr. Weasley!" Madam Hooch reprimanded. "Quiet please!" Harry grinned at Ron and noticed after that, Hermione was doing much better. She landed with a nervous smile on her face, and soon after, the testing was over.
"Thank you," Madam Hooch said as Cho scribbled down the name of a Ravenclaw who had just landed. "I am pleased, but not surprised, that you've all passed your certification. You can now legally fly in the wizarding public."
"You hear that?" Hermione practically squealed. "We ALL passed! I passed!"
"I must possess the 'Inner Eye'," Jade mused. "I saw this coming ages ago."
Later that evening, Harry led his friends out of the Great Hall, everyone appearing in a very good mood.
"Fantastic Knickerbocker Glory," Jade announced.
"Not as good as Fortescue's on Diagon Ally," Harry countered.
"How dare you insult the house elves!" Ron exclaimed earning himself (rather proudly, I might add) a glare from Hermione. As they exited Neville pushed through them, followed by Dean and Seamus who were brandishing a sign-up sheet for the Healing Arts in their hands. They had been at it all dinner, and others began to try to convince Neville to sign up for the St. Mungo's trip as well. Harry had tried to fend them off, but that only resulted in more people insisting it'd be good for him.
"You could be real good at Magical Medicine," Dean was saying, excusing himself as he pushed past after him. "Come on, it'll be fun."
"You're our friend Neville," Seamus added. "Come on, if you don't take the spot, some Slytherin git will get it. You deserve some time off. If I can't have a bit of a jolly, at least my friends can."
"I'm not interested, Seamus," Neville said with a quaver in his voice. Ron raised an eyebrow at him curiously.
"I don't think he wants too," Harry tried for the umpteenth time.
"But who wouldn't?" Dean and Seamus asked in unison looking at Harry as if he were a bit off. He could see their intentions were good, but they didn't have an inkling of what must be going on in Neville's head.
"At least tell us why you don't want to go—,"Dean began exasperatedly.
"I just don't," Neville said, his voice clipping dangerously; it was enough to silence everyone within hearing range. Ron looked from Harry to Hermione, mouth agape in surprise.
"And why's that?" drawled Malfoy who had just joined the small crowd leaving the Great Hall. "Being around sick people make you squirm?" Crabbe and Goyle pointed at Neville and did a silly dance, which Harry inferred, was suppose to be a mock "squirm".
"No…no, I just…" Neville stuttered.
"Afraid you can't handle all the information, a little too much blood for such an ickle, sorry mistake like you?" Malfoy said pressing in, pushing Ron and Harry out of the way as they tried to block him. There was never a boy who looked more nervous. Neville glanced at the growing crowd and began to back away, looking at Malfoy with both fear and disgust.
"Just ignore him," Hermione said firmly, shooting a heated glare Malfoy's way. Neville nodded and turned to depart.
"That's right, run away like usual." At that his round shoulders squared, and he pulled himself up as tall as he could.
"I have studying to do," he said forcing his voice not to waver.
"A few hours away from your notes isn't going to make you fail any worse than you already are," Malfoy returned as several Slytherins sniggered at the round-faced boy. Malfoy faced the crowd with a smirk that rivaled that of any conqueror.
"Look everyone," he announced. "Neville Longbottom, prime example of uselessness, practically a squib who couldn't make muggle aspirin work."
It happened so fast no one saw it coming. It was as if Malfoy's word was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, but in this case, the camel was Neville's stress and anger. Quicker than anyone had every seen him move, Neville grabbed Malfoy's collar, pulling him face to face. His brows were knitted. The round-face darkened and aged, so shocking was the transformation that even Hermione didn't attempt to step forward with her Prefects badge.
"I've seen St. Mungo's more times then I could stand," Neville spat. "And I'll do it again so you'll eat your words." With that he let the startled Malfoy go, quickly signed the sheet in Seamus's hand, and departed. Murmurs rippled through the throng of students as Malfoy nonchalantly straightened his collar and left for the dungeons.
"Come on," Hermione said to Harry, Ron, and Jade whose jaws had hit the ground. They parted the crowd and made for Gryffindor Common room.
"Insula Giliganis," she said upon reaching the portrait hole, ignored the Fat Lady's pleasantries and pushed her way in. It was completely empty save one lone figure with hunched shoulders, facing an empty wall.
"You all right, Neville?" she said softly. She was answered by a quiet sniffle. Harry and Ron looked uncomfortably at each other while Jade scoured the area for tissues.
"I never told anyone," Neville said shakily, wiping his nose with his sleeve, refusing to turn around. "I never told anyone that my parents are in St. Mungo's and that my holidays are spent visiting them with Gran, praying that they'd snap out of it."
"What?" Hermione asked shaking her head and shushing Ron.
"It's okay Neville," Harry said awkwardly. "You don't have to—" Neville turned to reveal his tear-streaked face. Jade quickly handed him a tissue, which he held limply in his hand.
"You-Know-Who did that to them," he said with fear in his voice. "It happened after he lost his power, but his followers tortured my parents, took away their minds…he's coming back and the Ministry won't do anything about it. I never told anyone!" his voice was rising now. "And now I've got to see my parents again. They're vegetables! And all because of You-Know-Who, and Malfoy and Dean, and Seamus, and the Ministry, and that STUPID class!" Thinking quickly, Hermione put her arms around him as he dissolved into tears. Over his shoulder, she had a look of stark confusion over Neville's hysterics. Harry, on the other hand completely understood. Neville managed a very innocent existence, hiding the anger and rage that was bottled beneath his tiny frame and round-face. There was bitterness in his voice too, that hit close to home for the Boy-Who-Lived. But with the bitterness was a sort of bravery. Harry never had more respect for Neville than he did then.
* * *
Images were racing before his eyes. The now familiar scenes of his parent's lives flickered across his mind as he was whipped through a sort of kaleidoscope of events until he landed hard on his feet, facing an ornate, circular chamber devoid of any windows. His mother stood in front of a pedestal, a necklace with a lucid green stone rested against her chest. Her eyes were closed and she slowly eased them open as she expelled a long held breath.
"I did it," she murmured as Harry watched her in awe.
"Christ, LILY!" came a faint but frantic call from James Potter. "LILY COME ON, THEY'RE HERE!" Her head whipped around, and she stared past Harry with fear in her eyes.
"Oh god."
She turned on her heels and raced out of the large chamber, tripping on the golden sword with the jade embedded hilt. She stumbled and pressed on, Harry right behind her, through the hall of eerie portraits, through the cave in which the rock creature was still stumbling about, skidding to a halt before the cave lake. The gondola and it's vile little water demon were no where to be seen.
"Corpus Leviosa," she said pointing her wand at her own chest, levitating herself across the water. Harry panicked, not wanting to loose sight of his mother, but unsure of how to get across. He shut his eyes, praying that he'd be able to and when he opened them, he was racing after Lily on the other side. They slid out of the slit-like opening of the grotto, and with cat-like moves, Lily descended the rock face into the larger cave cavern below.
"Lily! I saw them!" James hollered, hobbling towards her, panic visible on his face in the half-darkness.
"Who?" Harry asked frustrated. Unsurprisingly they didn't answer. Just as Lily's arms wrapped themselves around James's waist, several cloaked figures appeared at the mouth of the cave, each face covered by a dark mask, wands drawn. Death Eaters.
"NO!" Harry yelled, running forward, succeeding in only tripping himself.
"Apparate, apparate, apparate," James was chanting staring at their enemies, outnumbered four to one.
"No, you think?!" Lily cried out sarcastically. However, before they could do anything, one masked figure pointing his wand at them.
"Stupify!"
They threw themselves to the ground to avoid the curse, James crying out in pain. Harry watched them helplessly.
"Concentrate," Lily said to her husband. "We can't apparate if we don't—," Another spell sent debris showering over them. Harry watched his mother, one arm tight around his father's neck, her other slipping from his waist. With trembling hands she reached up and clasped the green pendent that dangled around her neck.
"We'll be taking that," snarled a woman's voice as the eight, cloaked figures approached them. Before anything else could happen, a large flash of gold and green light filled the cavern's expanses. There were screams and most of the Death Eaters managed to apparate. Harry threw his arms in front of his face and pressed his body against the smooth, stone, wall, as large cracks formed overhead. A crash, as if the sky were falling, echoed in his ears, and when he opened his eyes, he found his mother and father clutching each other, staring at a large pile of rocks and boulders. Barely visible in the settling dust were two very still bodies, cloaked in black, hooded robes.
"Harry!" a voice called from very far away, steadily growing louder.
"No, I want to find out what happened!" he cried out as the image began to fade.
"Harry, wake up!"
"No!"
"Get up!"
SMACK!
"ARGH!" Harry flailed his arms as his mouth was suddenly filled with feathers. Rocketing up from the mattress, his eyes snapped opened. Spitting angrily, he turned to face Ron who was standing on one side of his bed, holding a split pillow in one hand as a snow-like drift of feathers descended on him.
"What'd you do that for?" Harry asked wiping feathers out of his mouth.
"Oops," Ron said sheepishly. "Got a bit overzealous. Well, I had to get you up, or we'd be late to the Magical Medicine lesson."
"No, I forgot." He leaped from his bed, grabbing a fresh outfit from his wardrobe.
"Harry," Ron suddenly said as Harry was buttoning his shirt. "You had another dream…like the ones you told Dumbledore about, didn't you?" Harry paused then nodded.
"I wish I knew why I have them."
"They're not warnings, you think?"
"No," Harry said. He quickly changed the subject. "Come on, Hermione and Jade must be waiting for us."
* * *
"So now that you've been familiarized with the use of alchemy and transferring of energies in the healing world, as well as common magical maladies, I expect you all to take note of these things on our visit to St. Mungo's tomorrow."
It was nearing the end of the daylong lesson, and Harry could barely remember where they were going. The class itself was relatively easy and there were exciting hours, like that spent examining weird magical growths. He'd never forget the picture of the man who was cursed with a rabid bum that swallowed his head. He looked like a donut with legs. It took physicians 10 hours to figure out a counter-curse to get him proper again. The best part of the class of course, was when Cho asked him to be her partner during one of the demonstrations.
Madam Pomfrey walked passed and cleared her throat loudly, making Harry jump. Ron let out a loud snore and Hermione rammed an elbow into his ribs to wake him up. Other parts of the day were dry, stuffed to the bursting point with information. It was better, Harry supposed, than being in double Potions or History of Magic. For two days, he could forget about trivial things like the O.W.Ls.
"That concludes the end of the lesson," Pomfrey said moving towards the front of the ornate lecture hall. "You are to meet promptly in the Entrance Hall at 9:45 a.m., as the Portkeys"—
"Port key?" Jade asked puzzled.
"Shhhhh!"
"—Provided by the Department of Magical Transportations are scheduled for 10 and 10:10 a.m."
"Finally!" Ron mouthed to Harry who agreed. Jade and Hermione, however, looked slightly disappointed that the lesson didn't run longer.
"You are dismissed," Pomfrey said, before turning towards Neville and adding softly, "Quite quick you are with the alchemy cures. A fine physician you'd make one day." A brilliant blush appeared on his face and he grinned widely. Malfoy stalked past, his henchmen trailing him, without a word. He had grown curiously less cocky since that evening in the Entrance Hall.
"No homework and a day off tomorrow!" Dean sang after commenting on Neville's natural prowess for Healing Arts.
"It's more than that, Dean," Hermione said. "It's a learning experience."
"That's right, Dean," Ron added rather sardonically. "What were you thinking?"
The rest of the evening passed pleasantly. There wasn't any homework meaning Harry wouldn't have to sacrifice hours of his sleep to some essay or another after evening quidditch practice. He went that evening considerably carefree and light-hearted, despite the somewhat grueling routine Angelina had created which included running. Her reason for the new regimen was the new Hufflepuff captain, McKennett who led her team through three victories thus far.
"We've got to train ourselves to have an advantage," she panted to them.
"What? Does this improve take off?" Fred grumbled as he jogged alongside her.
The next morning, he and Ron got up early and met Hermione and Jade in the Great Hall.
"I'm so envious," Ginny whined spreading marmalade on her toast. "You get to get out of school and homework? Really now, you'd think the staff was against spoiling their pupils."
"But it's a learning experience," Ron replied wide-eyed. Harry sniggered as he devoured some fried tomatoes.
"I'm so excited!" Jade squealed. She hadn't eaten a thing off her plate, which was heaped haphazardly with untouched food. "Maybe they'll let us see a severed head or something!"
"I highly doubt that," Hermione stated.
At a quarter to ten, Harry led them into the Entrance hall where most of the students signed up were already waiting along with two men and woman, each with two old tires in front of them.
"Attention please! Attention!" Professor McGonagall's voice boomed through the hall. The chattering slowly died away.
"Please queue up before each of the Transportation representatives, fourteen deep. Now you will be going seven per portkey at a time, as there are two scheduled departures, ten minutes apart. Queue up now, quickly!"
"Come on," Harry said joining the line closes to them.
"Right then, need seven here," said the man who headed their line as Mandy Brocklehurst, Neville, and Dean joined them.
"If I have to go," Neville said to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Jade. "I'm sticking with you guys." The man handed them the old tire.
"Just a hand will do."
They stood around it, each with one hand supporting the donut of rubber, watching it in anticipation.
"Er…" Jade said raising an eyebrow. "Are we supposed to all fit in it or something?"
"Good one, Jade," Mandy laughed, "you aren't being serious!"
"I was, actually."
Hermione snorted.
"It's a portkey," Harry explained. "It'll take us directly to—" a familiar tug just behind the navel signaled their speedy departure. Elbows tucked in, he whirled alongside six other people. With a thud he hit solid ground, and for a moment, thought that he had managed to land the trip on his feet. His hopes were quickly dashed, however as five people fell on top of him.
"St. Mungo's," he groaned from beneath the mound of bodies.
"Thanks, Harry."
"Anytime."
"Hello, Madam Pomfrey," a bald, older man said approaching them.
"Dr. McCourt, I hope we find you well?"
"Excellent, and—," he stopped noticing Jade, Hermione, Harry, and Ron. "Oh, hello again." It was the same doctor who had accompanied Price that night the Ministry nearly succeeded in taking Jade.
"I hope things are going well for you," he said awkwardly, flashing a kind smile.
"Very," Jade replied attempting a strained smile her self. Any further uncomfortable silence was prevented by the arrival of the rest of the students. The doctor turned back to Pomfrey and together they rounded up everyone and started a quick orientation.
"Small world," Hermione said as they were escorted on their tour led by Dr. McCourt.
The hospital was surprisingly large, and for the most part pretty, located just south of Hogwarts near Edinburgh, Scotland. They were shown laboratories where transfigured cultures were grown, as well as the Emergency room (the sight for truly gruesome magically caused afflictions).
"And this is the recovery ward," Dr. McCourt announced as they entered this new corridor. "Most patients who have been treated go here until they are fit to be released, oh hello, Mr. Weasley. Now if you'd look this way…" Ron's eyeballs nearly fell out of his head at the sight of his brother. Percy looked as if he were putting his best efforts towards a welcoming smile, albeit surprised. McCourt had directed the students' attention to a glass room further down the hall, which made it easy for Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Jade to slip away.
"What are you doing here?" Ron asked quietly. "Testing syringe thickness?"
"Hi Ron," Percy said taking off his glasses and wiping them with a corner of his robes. "Hermione, Harry…Jade? I hope you are all doing well."
"Cut the crap, Dad says he hasn't seen you in days, moved out have you?" With a look from Hermione, Harry knew he wasn't the only one surprised.
"Just temporarily," Percy stuttered. "Listen Ron, I'm just doing the best I can—,"
"I bet."
"And I'm really sorry about what nearly happened to Jade. Really, I'm so happy it all worked out for you."
"You haven't ratted on dad to Price, have you?" Ron hissed. "Maybe that's why you moved out? So you could tell Price guilt free?"
"I wouldn't do that!" he returned indignantly.
"What's going on?" Neville whispered. Keeping to his plan of staying with them, he slipped from the tour to stay behind.
"Then why won't you believe him?"
"Believe who?" all their heads turned to meet the steely gray eyes of Logan Price.
"Nobody," Harry said quickly. With Hermione's help (as Jade seemed set on not speaking to the Minstry Head, and Ron was incapacitated by his anger) Harry explained the field trip and their surprise on seeing Percy there. Price nodded thoughtfully before insisting on exchanging pleasantries, shaking their hands, and after a small hesitation, even Jade's.
"We've got to go if I'm to make that meeting with the governors," Price said to Percy. "Why don't you say your goodbyes while I sign us out?"
"Sure thing," Percy said rather weakly.
"Oh, while you're here," Price said pausing and turning solely to Jade. He reached into his pocket and extended his hand. She backed away from it.
"It's a confirmation of your parents' visit to Hogwarts," he explained. "It's been arranged for May twenty-third. They'll be taking an air-plane, if you know what that is, sort of muggle contraption. Anyway, I was going to mail it, but since you're here…" he handed it to her, cold gray eyes adverted and started away.
"What's he doing here?" Ron asked heatedly as soon as Price was out of earshot. "What, are you such great friends you have slumber parties and do each other's toenails now?" Percy stiffened.
"Mr. Price comes here on his free time to work with the mentally ill," he said straightening his shoulders. "He's got a soft spot in his heart for them, ask anyone here." There was a silent stare-off between the brothers, Neville looking from the Weasleys to Harry and Hermione curiously.
"I've got to dash," Percy said awkwardly, having turned away first. "Tell Ginny and the twins…tell them I miss them, all right?" Without waiting for an answer he departed. At those words, the anger in Ron's face lesson and he stared after the disappearing form of his brother.
"Come on," Hermione said touching his shoulder. "We've lost our class." He nodded silently and followed her, and his friends down the corridor their peers were last in.
"We've asked five people, and we're still lost," Harry said exasperatedly an hour later as they stood at yet another crossroad in the hospital. "Didn't they ever hear of 'maps'?"
"I think we've been here before," Hermione noted looking at the charts on the doors as they passed.
"How could you tell?" Jade ask. "All the halls look exactly the same. For all we know, we never moved."
"Let's go this way," Harry said turning left. A few steps through however, Neville stopped in his tracks, and was nearly flung forward as Ron walked into him.
"No, they won't be there," he said firmly, shaking his head.
"What'd you mean?" Ron asked.
"That's…that's the mental ward…Madam Pomfrey said we weren't going to visit that."
"Well, there's a nurse just there," Jade said pointing down the hall. "We won't go in, we'll just ask if she knows where Dr. McCourt has taken the class." Neville hesitated but finally gave in after some reassuring comments from Hermione. (Very slowly) they made there way down the hall, towards two swinging doors marked "Psychiatric Ward" where a nurse was flipping through several manila folders.
"Excuse us," Harry said as they approached. "But do you happen to know where—?"
"The Psychiatric Ward waiting room is?" the nurse replied in a voice that was unnaturally fast. "Sure thing heading there myself come on." She pushed open the swinging doors, Harry and the rest of them trailing helplessly behind her.
"No, we're—"
"Waiting for someone? Just follow me."
"We actually—"
"Just through that hall, you'll have to sign in with the desk nurse there she'll be able to answer any questions you have bye now." The words were barely out of her mouth before she was quickly starting away.
"But—"
"Ah, don't even try, Harry," Ron said shaking his head. "Come on, we'll just go ask that nurse she told us about." They started to press forward, but noticed Neville had suddenly frozen to the spot again. This time, however, he was staring through a glass window into a room. His hands were pressed against the pane, and he breathed so that a cloud appeared across the surface before quickly vanishing.
"Neville?" Hermione said touching his forearm.
"I've never gone to see them without Gran," he murmured. Harry's breath caught in his throat as his eyes traveled from Neville to the two people silhouetted on beds by the mid-day light. Though their skin had turned ash colored, and their features were wild and somewhat unkempt, they were unmistakably the Longbottoms Harry had seen in his dreams. Their eyes stared like useless gobbstones from their sockets, reminding him of the eerie look on Hermione's face when she was petrified.
"Let's go Neville," Hermione said gently. He jerked away and reached for the door, pushing it open. Looking uncomfortably at each other, they followed him in.
"This is my mum and dad," he said quietly walking over and kneeling between the beds. The two patients showed no sign of recognizing their son. "Hi, mum you're looking better today. And Dad? I hope you're well. I bet you're both surprised I'm visiting so early, eh?" with that he let out a sort of awkward little chuckle.
"Neville, it's time to go," Hermione said.
"Just a few more minutes," he replied. "See? Just vegetables…but maybe, just maybe they'll wake up today." Ron glanced at Harry worriedly. Jade didn't move or say a thing, just stood back from Neville, watching him and his parents.
"Let's go," Ron said. "You're Gran will take you to visit again soon, Neville." The round-faced boy nodded and slowly got to his feet. He smiled weakly at them and followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione towards the door.
"No, wait!" Jade cried out, blocking the exit. "I saw her eyes move!"
"Jade, don't," Hermione said firmly.
"No, Neville come here." Jade grabbed him and pulled him forcefully back to his original position between the beds, where she shoved his hands into the slack palms of his parents.
"Just watch," she murmured excitedly. Hermione was ready to protest, making it clear to Harry and Ron that Jade's actions were hurting Neville with a single glance. Neville stood there, face slackened, watching his parents. Without warning, his mother's hand wrapped around his, and soon after that, his father's did the same. Hermione and Ron gasped while Harry pressed in on Mr. Longbottom's side of the bed for a better look. Their eyes lit up; the change was dramatic.
"Who…" Mrs. Longbottom croaked so quietly the ears strained to hear it.
"Mum?" Neville whispered. "It's me, Neville, mum." His father's hand was now grasping at him tightly and he turned his head. "Dad! It's me!"
"What's going on here?" a doctor cried out bursting into the room. "What are you kids doing? You're not supposed to—dear god almighty." She took one look at the slowly responsive Longbottoms, before leaning out and shouting for the nurses.
"It's me! It's me Neville!" Neville cried out, tears of release streaming down his face.
"How?" Hermione breathed.
"I told you, I saw their eyes," Jade muttered, one hand still gripping Neville's shoulder, the other clasping her pendent. Harry's mouth was slack as he watched the Longbottoms gaze directly at their son. A burning anger at what the Death Eaters had done to them filled his mouth, his lungs. Voldemort's reign had taken away more than lives…it took away things that made life worth living. The sounds of nurses and doctors out in the hall seemed very distant.
Suddenly, Mr. Longbottom's head snapped towards Harry, catching him by surprise. The man's hand reached up, grabbing a handful of his robes pulling him close with shocking strength. Harry struggled, until he saw the look of urgency in Mr. Longbottom's face.
"James," he breathed, eyes boring into Harry's. "James listen; they know, You-Know-Who knows. You tell Lily to get rid of it. Dear god, just get rid of it."
A/N: I just wanted to let you all know how incredibly stoked I was checking my reviews the other week. I have never gotten that many in one go before and as a result I freaked out and fell out of my chair…note that I was checking said reviews in the University library and succeeded in thoroughly embarrassing myself… Anywho, you guys are wonderful, fantastic, the paramount of all fanficdom, and many other great adjectives I can't think of right now. Siriusly, your reviews have cracked me up, steered me in the right direction, and most of all totally brighten my day (especially during finals week….gah)…so, since I am quickly running out of time (before I have to rush off to class), thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you enjoy ch.20, and my humblest apologies that it took so friggin' long to post. Please do me the wonderful favor of reviewing (I will love you forever!), and here's hoping that I finish ch.21 by next weekend. ….ACK! one more thing!
If you didn't know it, I've been trying my hand at FanArt and have finally grown the galls to submit some of it. Please, if you have time, view it at this fabtacular site:
http://death-curse.com/dc.php?p=art
you'll have to copy and paste the url, but please take a look. It's the first group of pics under "Jessi Harlyequinn" (don't even ask). You're thoughts would mean a lot to me…just ignore the one picture of Harry that looks suspiciously like Calista Flockhart in a baggy sweater :-)
Thank you once again,
Agent 99 (jess)
p.s
(and you thought the insanity was going to end…) my email address has changed because stupid yahoo has decided to SPAM!!!!ARGH! It's now dressedmyself@hotmail.com, and yes, is posted in my bio.