Harry Potter and the Curse of the Gypsy
Author's Note: Thank you for reading this fan fiction. I have hit a few snags along the way, but so far it is turning out quite well and I hope that you like it. If you like this story, you may also like my Lily and James fiction titled The Pranking War, which though it starts like any other love/hate story turns out quite different. Also, if you are a fan of fantasy/sword and sorcery stories, you may like to check out my original stories on fictionpress.net, under the pen name Megx. Please READ AND REVIEW!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any character out of this story except for Cory Johnson and the plot, too. So please don't try and sue me, all I've got anyway is...well, nothing.
Chapter Ten
There was nothing more nerve-wracking than being captain of the Quidditch team, as Harry soon found out.
He had always thought the former captain, Oliver Wood, to be a bit mental at times---now he understood why. Every time he met up with another Gryffindor in the hall---whatever year they might be in---the first thing he heard was "Hey Potter, gonna get us the championship this year, right?" It was beginning to make him ill.
What little comfort he had was that every other team in the school was getting a new captain as well. He hadn't been surprised that Draco Malfoy was made captain of the Slytherins---it was well known that, with his father's money and influence, he could take any position on the team he wanted, which was why Harry highly suspected Malfoy had even made it on the team as Seeker in the first place.
A bit more of a shock---and not to mention a sore spot for Harry---was the appointment of Cho Chang as Ravenclaw captain. She was seeker as well, and Harry in the past couple of years had developed a bit of a fancy for her. However, she had been dating Cedric Diggory, and now Cedric was dead. He had made it a point to avoid her in the hall---he knew she wouldn't try and force it out of him, but he knew that when he got a chance to talk to her he would have to recount Cedric's final moments and...that wasn't something he was ready for. Not yet. Not ever.
The Hufflepuffs, of course, had elected a new captain and found a new seeker for their team. Theirs was the only team that didn't have a Seeker as captain, because the Seeker was a feisty little second year who, despite was she said, no doubt could never lead a team on her own. Instead they had chosen their Keeper as captain.
With the buzz of Quidditch and the excitement over the appointment of new positions on the teams, Harry found it hard to concentrate on any of his schoolwork, which he found to be a sore point with Hermione.
"Come on Harry," she moaned one morning as they were going to History of Magic class, "you have to pay attention, at least for a little while. Binns mentioned he would be telling of the little history known about Hogwarts. If that isn't on the exam, then I don't know what would be."
"I'd pay attention if I could, Hermione. It's hard though. You'd think a class taught by a ghost would be more exciting."
Hermione sighed resignedly. "Listen, boring or not, we can't afford for you to make bad grades now. Not since your prefect AND captain of the team."
"I've never made bad grades before." He muttered, raking a hand through his hair to make it stand on end.
"No. Average. Repeat after me...av-er-age. You can do better, Harry, I know you can. If you just..."
"Listen!" he said loudly, making her and a few people standing about in the halls freeze. He glared at the others, making them leave quickly. "Listen," he hissed when they were alone. "Not everybody can be a genius like you, okay? I know I'm average---which is fine. I'm not obsessed with being the best, contrary to what everybody thinks. In fact, I'd be giddy if people thought less of me."
Hermione flushed red. "It...it isn't that Harry. People don't expect you to be any less than you are. I mean, you're a great wizard. And you can't say you're average---not when both of us know better than that. I mean, how many wizards could make a Patronus in their third year? I couldn't even do that."
"Yeah." Harry sighed. "But...I don't even know how I did that. I've tried to explain it to you. You're supposed to be thinking of your happiest memory, and then it comes to you but...I wasn't really thinking at all. It was the time switch---I'd seen myself do it, and I knew I could, so I didn't have to think all that happy thoughts..."
Hermione was looking at him intently. When he paused she shook her head. "No, I don't understand it either. I read up on the Patronus, and it just doesn't seem to fit...how it worked with you and all. But then, you've always been different Harry."
"Don't remind me." They were silent as they walked the final hall down to the History of Magic classroom. Ron was already seated when they walked in.
"Hey," he whispered in irritation, "where were you guys?"
"Talking." Hermione mouthed, setting down her books beside Ron. Harry took the final seat and pulled out his quill and parchment which, instead of being covered in notes as Hermione had dolefully pointed they should have been, held a list of names Harry was considering as new Keeper. Ron was at the top of the list.
He glanced up as he heard Professor Binns enter the room through the blackboard. Even that had happened with such regularity it didn't seem exciting anymore. The only time anything remotely exciting had happened in this room had been in second year, when Hermione had pressed Binns to tell about the fabled Chamber of Secrets, which had turned out to be so much more than a legend.
Looking back down at his notes, he began to hastily scribble down the traits that he felt would work well with the team. Agility, though important, was not the top issue...the Weasley twins were excellent Beaters, and kept the Bludgers away from the team with great accuracy. Endurance---that wasn't an issue as much as it could have been. Harry, if the case called for it, had been known to capture the Snitch in less than five minutes.
That left speed and response time. These were the things Harry finally decided would be the most important to look for---these were the things that would most benefit the team. He had just come to this decision when he noticed that Professor Binns was staring right at him, as was the rest of the class.
He froze, because not only was he prickling under their scrutiny, he had absolutely no idea what they were looking at him for.
"Well?" Binns said, making Harry jump.
"Well what?" he replied sheepishly, turning red despite himself.
Binns coughed---or at least made some noise that Harry assumed to be one of indignation, and frowned. "Mr. Patterson, I was just saying that the Avada Kedavra curse, which was invented in the same year that this school was founded, had never been survived by any person in history, and Miss Gangford here told me that in fact, you had survived it. Is this true?"
"Excuse me...what?!" Harry realized that he had gone pale. Lavender Brown was snickering behind her hand and Neville was staring at Binns in amazement.
"You...you don't know about Harry, sir?" Ron asked finally, his look just as shocked as everybody else's. "He...he defeated You-Know-Who...when he was only a year old..."
Binns put his hand at his temple and thought back as if he were trying to recollect something. "Now...well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do recall...how odd, that I should forget, I don't know why these things don't seem to matter as much now, as they used to..."
"Do you...do you think maybe it's because...well, because you're dead?"
Binns got an odd look on his face. "Dead? What are you..." and he froze. Slowly he looked down at himself---transparent and hovering several feet from the ground. "I'm...dead...oh...my..." With that a horrified look appeared on his face and he quickly zoomed back through the blackboard. The last thing anybody heard was, "WHY DIDN'T ANYBODY TELL ME I WAS DEAD!!!" screeched through the halls.
"Wow...way to go Hermione." Ron muttered. A look of terror crossed over her face.
"I didn't mean to...oh, no..."
"It's all right." Cory said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I think it's time he got a wake up call...or a death call is more like it."
"At least class wasn't boring for a change." Harry muttered. And, despite himself, he felt a little charge of determination go through him---for the first time since entering the magical world there had been somebody--- albeit a ghost---who hadn't known who he was.
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"All right, we're sharing the field with the Ravenclaws for today's Quidditch team auditions. We have the west half, and they have the east half. So far, we only need a Keeper for the team---but we will be taking reserves players, so at least eight players today will be getting a place." Harry sighed as he ran his hand across his forehead. He had his trusty Firebolt slung across his back and couldn't wait to try it out with the new features Mr. Weasley had helped install.
The hopefuls sat across from him on the benches, all with their brooms at their feet. Colin and Dennis Creevey were there---he guessed mostly to watch him, as they had brought a camera. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan also were sitting there. Ron of course had come, complete with the broom Mr. Weasley had somehow gotten for him---an obviously secondhand Nimbus Two- Thousand, which appeared to be in good condition despite noticeable wear on the handle.
To his surprise, Ginny Weasley was also there, shooting both Harry and her brother long glances through her lashes. Beside her was Neville Longbottom, who was clutching his broom so tightly his knuckles were turning white.
"Okay..." Harry said after a moment. "The Weasley twins have the sign-up sheet. Please put down your name and positions...and sign on the line."
"What's that for?" Neville said suspiciously. Harry blanched.
"It's just in case anybody gets injured...scrapes, broken bones, anything like that." Neville gulped.
He watched the list as people began signing it. The Creevey brothers were trying for reserve Seekers---both of them. Harry could guess why. Ginny also was trying out for Seeker. Dean and Seamus signed to try for both Beater and Keeper. Ron of course, tried for Keeper. Neville, who couldn't quite decided what he wanted to do, signed for everything except Seeker, as it was well known to be the most dangerous position on a Quidditch team, and the one most likely to be injured in a match.
A few more second years ran panting up to sign the list. Harry only noticed a few, a fact that made him uncomfortable as they stared at him with such reverence. When they were all done, he stepped back to look at them.
"Okay..." he said. "We're going to be starting in a minute. Everybody take a few practice laps around, and the Weasley twins will explain the obstacle course we've set up for you. I'll be up in a minute to watch."
They all nodded. Even Ron, who would usually have stayed behind to talk to Harry, went up without a word. He appeared rather green, and stricken with nerves.
He turned just in time to see Cory and Hermione walking up to him. "What?" he said quizzically. "Are you trying out too?"
"Heavens no." Hermione said, a look of amusement on her face. "I might come to all the games, root for Gryffindor and all that, but I'm not exactly the sports fanatic. And as Cory was just kindly informing me, she's afraid of heights."
"'Mione!" Cory gasped, giving Hermione a slight shove on the shoulder. "You prat! I didn't say I was scared of them...I said I just didn't like them."
"Oh, Cory...Harry's your friend, he understands, don't you?"
Harry, keen to be in on the joke, grinned. "Of course. You really don't mind them anymore after falling off your broomstick for the fifth or sixth time."
Cory turned in exasperation to Hermione. "See, his brain's been damaged. And just how many times has he been hit in the head with a bludger, I'd like to know?"
"Oh, only a couple." He snorted. "And it didn't do much, really. I still know my name is Herbert Patterson."
Cory rolled her eyes. "You see? You see what Quidditch has done to him? Not only that, spending all his time with the Weasley twins...it's driven him to madness."
"You only know the half of it." Hermione muttered. Harry grinned.
"All right...amusing as this is, I've got to get up there. Gred and Forge need me to start surveying the troops, before we go into battle."
Hermione and Cory looked at each other, rolling their eyes in unison. Shrugging, he mounted his broom and took off into the air, feeling the surge of freedom he always felt on broomstick.
If the Firebolt had been amazing before, it was miraculous now. It turned almost as if by his thought alone, and when he speeded up from a hovering position, within seconds, everybody around him was a blur. He zipped around the hopefuls, zooming mere inches from Ron's long nose. He was already on the other side of the field when Ron finally got the nerves back to call after him.
"Okay, Potter, enough of this!" Fred called. "You're captain. You're supposed to lead us, oh wise and great captain. Teach us to fly like the Hippogriff, to soar like a majestic Griffin..."
"To spout manure like a Dragon." Ron shouted when Fred paused to think of another part to his soliloquy. "But I think you've got that part down pat."
Everybody went off into roars off laughter. "Remind me to kill him for thinking he could be the comedian here." Fred muttered to George so that only Harry could here. He grinned widely.
"Okay. Okay, you've all had the obstacle course explained to you?" He said. They all nodded. "Fine then. I'll be watching from the ground. Fred and George will be refereeing up here, and I don't doubt they'll turn you into rabbits in an instant," he snickered, as Ron scowled, "so no funny business." They all nodded. "On Fred's whistle then...go!"
The whistle blew and they took off, one by one. It began with a test of strength---the Weasley twins took turns shooting bludgers at the person being tested, and that person in turn had to use a beater's club to knock them back as far as they could get them.
"Ron's obviously not a beater." Harry heard a snicker behind him. Cory and Hermione were sitting on the bench, heads together. Hermione glared at Cory. "Well, he's not." She said. "Look---he can hit them all right, but he hasn't the strength to get them very far. A few feet before they turn right back at him." Harry glanced at Ron to see that she was right. A few had already hit him in the ribs---Harry didn't have to imagine how sore Ron would be in the morning, after his own experiences with the bludgers.
Fred blew his whistle. "Next challenge. Go!" Ron dropped the club and sped towards the chaser challenge. Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell were tossing two red quaffles about and took a place on either side of Ron. At Fred's signal they began vigorously tossing them to Ron, who had to dart forward and try to get them into the goals as accurately as possible.
"Not a chaser, either." Hermione muttered, though she was loath to speak ill of her...friend. Ron was able to catch the quaffles as quickly as they were tossed to him, but could not throw them into the small hoops with timely precision. After twenty attempts and only three goals, Fred shook his head. "Next challenge." George was now starting Seamus Finnigan on the beater challenge.
Ron left Katie and Angelina in annoyance, shoving the quaffle at Angelina, who reeled backwards. "Hey!" Fred shouted with menacing tones. "That's twenty points for assaulting a head girl!"
"Shove it, Fred." Angelina grinned. "You think he would get twenty points taken away for hurting me?" she batted her lashes.
"Who said they were going to be taken off?" Fred murmured, as if the fact were obvious. George sighed.
"Yes, yes. We all know you two fancy each other. Now would you please get on with the show?"
"Fine then, Ron, onto the Keeper part of the challenge." Ron grinned, obviously sure that he had found his forte. Alicia Spinnet, the final chaser, held a quaffle in her hands. Ron would be in charge of protecting the five hoops behind him.
"You ready?" she shouted. Ron nodded.
"Ready when...oof!" he choked. Alicia had just sent the quaffle careening into Ron's stomach.
"All...ow..." She grinned.
"Constant vigilance...eh, Harry?"
"Erm...right." he responded, though he did not like to be reminded of last years encounter with Barty Crouch, disguised as Mad-Eye Moody.
Ron had turned red. "That's it." he whispered so Harry only knew what he said by reading his lips. Alicia sent another Quaffle rocketing towards Ron. This time he was able to go after it, catching it as it neared a hoop. He threw it back at her and caught another that almost went over his left shoulder.
"Well, well..." Cory sighed. "It appears as if Ron might just actually be good at a position."
"Yeah..." Hermione said in amazement. Harry was watching also. He hadn't realized Ron actually was pretty good---he guessed he hadn't gotten that much from the games played back at The Burrow. Though he was quite unpolished---definitely not quite Keeper material yet---he could see that Ron, with a little training, could make quite the outstanding Keeper.
Out of thirty, he only let six goals pass. He smiled. "Told you I was good, Harry." He shouted. "Out of fifty at the Starlight Festival, I didn't even let one pass. Today was an off day!"
Harry laughed. Fred smiled, clapping Ron on the arm. "How sad, to see ickle Ronniekins growing up. Why George, just yesterday I remember mum telling him to make sure he was washing behind the ears and keeping clean knickers on his bum..."
"Why, that was yesterday you twit." George said loudly. "Didn't you read the letter mum sent him?"
Ron scowled. "You two..."
"No, no, don't thank us for our guidance. We've gotten you where you are today, you don't have to remind us. Just be glad we're here for you, Ronniekins. And now, if you'll be so kind, we have one final competition for you...find the Snitch!"
He clapped Ron on the back and left. On the paper besides Ron's name, a small hourglass appeared, indicating the time that had passed. Whoever caught a snitch in the shortest amount of time would receive fifty extra points to the days score, and position of reserve seeker on the team.
Harry turned his attention away from Ron as he began zooming about in search of the golden snitch. He watched Dean and Seamus---both showed potential to be either incredible beaters or chasers---the Creevey brothers, who Harry guessed could be trained up for position of chaser, and started marking down positions for the other second years that had shown up for the audition.
Finally Ginny flew up, blushing to the roots of her hair. "Okay, little sis." Fred said. "You're up." She flushed even redder and began the competition.
She was hit by thirteen bludgers. However, as chaser she made every single attempted goal, save for one, when Harry had began applauding for her, and she had turned to look, dropping the Quaffle at the same time. She blushed even redder.
"There's one of your reserve chasers." Harry glanced over as a new voice cut through the raucous noise of the players.
"Oh...hi, Cho." She sat down beside Cory.
"Hey, Harry. I've been watching some of your players. They are all quite good. Gryffindor is going to be a tough competitor this year for the cup."
"And I'm sure Ravenclaw will be too." Harry said. "Hopefully we'll have some good competition this year, though Malfoy's captain of Slytherin, and without Cedric..." he froze, realizing what he just said. "Oh, Cho...I really didn't mean...I was just..."
"No, Harry. Don't be sorry. I understand. " She turned her face up to the people on broomstick. She chuckled as Ginny squawked---the fifth quaffle had just passed her. "As I said, a good chaser---not a keeper or beater though. I think we need to talk later, Harry. About..."
"Of course." Cory cut in, smiling cheerfully. "But we can't let you be spying on us, can we? Never know...you might try and..."
She never finished what she was saying. A loud cry came from the Ravenclaw side as one of the goals fell over, knocking a third year from her broom. "Oh, no!" Cho shouted, getting to her feet. "What happened?"
"I...it looks like somebody used a spell. Probably some stupid Slytherin. You'd better go." Cory urged. Harry got the strong suspicious she wanted Cho to leave. Secretly, he was glad.
"Oh, okay...bye, then!" She barely stayed to say the last word as she ran fiercely to the group forming around the fallen girl.
"Wonder what happened?" Hermione said thoughtfully. "Wonder who did that spell? I don't see anybody with a wand around here."
Harry shrugged as he turned to watch the last competitor. Neville Longbottom. He was hit at least twenty times by the bludgers. He didn't get one goal. He let every single quaffle pass, and by the time he had gotten to the seeker part of the challenge, he looked quite shaken indeed.
Only Ron and the younger Creevey brother had managed to catch the snitch, in twenty-five and twenty three minutes respectively. Dennis had come back to the ground, to sit happily beside Harry, but Ron remained in the air, contentedly testing out his broom.
Neville saw the snitch at the same time Harry did. Squeezing his eyes shut, he zoomed after it, not noticing...
"Hey!" Ron shouted, when he was knocked off his broom by Neville's plump figure. He held on tightly to his broom as he went crashing down to the ground. His broom was beneath him when he collided with the earth, and he went green when he heard the sickening crunch of snapping wood.
"Oh please...please no..." he murmured as he got up sorely on hands and needs. The broom lay on the ground, bent at an odd angle---definitely broken.
"I...I'm sorry Ron. I didn't mean..." Ron got to his feet slowly and turned to Neville.
"You, you stupid..."
"I really...please, I'm sorry..." Neville began backing away when he saw the look on Ron's face.
"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO GET THAT BROOM?!" Ron shouted, standing inches away from Neville's face.
"Ron, please..."
"THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW! I'VE PUT UP WITH YOU FOR FOUR YEARS ALREADY AND I CAN'T---TAKE---IT---ANY---MORE!!!" Neville was shaking as he began backing away.
"Ron, don't do this..." Hermione said, running to his side. "He didn't mean..."
"No! He never means to do anything! This is it! I won't put up with it!"
Cory was sitting up, staring at him. Hermione had her hand on his arm, trying to calm him. "Forget it," Hermione said sharply. "It's only a broom."
"Only a broom?" Ron shouted. "It took my dad my entire life to get that for me, and I'll never get another one!"
"Ron...you can...you can have mine..." Neville whimpered. Ron looked at it in disgust.
"Keep it." he said darkly. He turned away and began walking to the showers.
Hermione ran after him. "Listen...Ron, you shouldn't do this..."
"Don't try and make me change my mind." Ron sneered. "It won't change a thing." He looked at Neville, who was now shaking all over. "And don't think I'll regret what I said, either." He muttered. "Just be glad he doesn't have parents...then they don't have to see what an idiot their son turned out to be."
Everybody went quiet and turned to stare at Ron. Harry felt his heart sink to his stomach. Ron, who had realized what he just said, paled. "No...I didn't mean..."
"Of course you did." Harry said darkly. "What's your problem? Sometimes I think I don't even know you, Ron."
"But...but..." Neville, whimpering, turned and began running back to the castle.
"What gives you the right to say things like that?" Harry said loudly. Only he was talking, and even the Ravenclaws had now turned to watch. "You of all people."
"You're...you're taking his side? He destroyed my broom!"
Harry snorted. "Yes, and a broom matters so much. Is that what you said to yourself last year, when we were fighting? Have you ever thought to yourself that you were glad MY parents are dead? That it's good they didn't see what I turned out to be?" Would you say that if I wasn't exactly the smartest person in school?"
"But...Harry, you're my friend!"
"So is Neville." Harry said darkly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go talk to my good friend, Neville." He turned and walked quickly back to the castle. He only just heard Ginny whisper, "Do you think he noticed I caught the snitch in four minutes?"
He raced back to the common room. "Password?" The fat lady asked.
"Expecto...no, that was last weeks...Canis Majoris?"
"Right. That plump boy didn't know it, so I couldn't let him in...he said something about going to the library."
Harry, without thinking, turned right around and ran to the library, leaving the portrait swinging open. Snape saw him and shouted---Harry didn't even notice. He turned a corner and jogged in, ignoring Madam Pince's roving eyes. "Neville!" he whispered.
"Leave me alone." Harry glanced towards the restricted section. Neville was sitting at a table beside the out of bounds books, his head in his hands.
"Neville, are you all right?" Harry muttered, sitting right next to him.
"I'm fine..." Harry shook his head.
"No. You're not. I wouldn't be either. Want to talk about it?"
"I...just leave me alone, all right Harry. You wouldn't understand."
Harry crossed him arms and raised a brow. "Wouldn't I?" Neville turned bright red and looked up.
"Oh...see, I am an idiot...I...forgot...I'm so stupid." His eyes were swollen and red, and he looked extremely tired.
"No, you're not an idiot. You're better than I am at Herbology...and even in Potion's you can fix a potion...well, when you have the recipe right in front of you, at least."
Neville snorted, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "Don't try and make me feel better." He muttered miserably. "Ron was right---even though I think he was horrible for saying it." Harry snorted. "But...sometimes..." he flushed brightly, "sometimes I am glad that my parent's don't know me...they'd be so disappointed."
"They wouldn't be." Harry said darkly. "Believe me. I've lived so much of my life doing stupid things and wondering what my mum and dad would have thought. And then, when I get something right, I can't help but wonder if I would have made them proud. It gets you nowhere. But you still have to do it."
Neville nodded. "Yeah. I understand." He sat back. "Now, I can't help but think my dad would...call me a sissy, or something. Crying, and I'm fifteen years old. He wasn't a sissy. He was an auror. Did I ever tell you that, Harry?"
Harry knew, of course---he had seen it in Dumbledore's pensieve. But he didn't want Neville to know that, so he shook his head. "No. I've never heard anything about your parents."
"They were both aurors." He said, sighing. "They got a lot of death eaters. They were even after You-Know-Who. Then...well, you know, you got him, of course. My gram said she was never happier than when he was killed...before then she was always afraid You-Know-Who would get them."
"So...he didn't kill them?" Harry prompted, attempting to get Neville to tell the tale on his own terms.
"No." he finally said, after debating with himself for a long moment. "No, he didn't. But after he went away..." he gulped, wiping his eyes again. "Well, some death eaters came...they used the Cruciatus curse on them, and tried to make them tell where You-Know-Who was. They didn't know, of course, but those...they didn't stop."
"And...what happened?" Harry said softly, putting a hand on Neville's shoulder.
"They...went mad. They're in St. Mungo's. They...they can't remember anything. They don't talk to me, they just...stare. And ask who I am, and why I'm there. One time I tried to tell them...tried to make them understand. Then they just stared at me...and didn't say anything. Everytime I visit...every vacation...I still hope that it'll be the time one of them finally remembers me. But I guess it's too late, huh Harry?"
"No." Harry said hoarsely. "You still have hope, Neville. They could find a cure someday. They could find a cure for whatever madness they have. But...well, they can't find a cure for being dead, can they? I'll never even get the chance to meet my parents. So I don't know what's worse."
"What do you mean?" Neville sniffed.
"Well..." Harry said softly. "You have parents here, but they can't tell who you are. They don't know you. And them being alive is like a constant reminder that they are here. But you still have hope. And I...well, I don't have hope of knowing them, but then I don't have to watch them like that. But this scar...everybody knows who I am, and that's a constant reminder. So...Neville, just don't forget. You can talk to me."
Neville looked at Harry for a long moment before smiling. "Yeah...yeah, of course. Thanks Harry. You're...you're the best friend I've got." He stood up and left Harry alone in the library.
Harry watched him as he left. And realized that in this small conversation with Neville, he had answered questions he himself had been wondering for fourteen years.
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Wow! Thank you for the reviews, those few people that have reviewed me! I know, this chapter is a lot longer than my usual ones, but this chapter had personal meaning, and I felt it was time Harry and Neville had a little heart to heart.
Please don't forget to read my other stories! If you are too lazy to go to fictionpress.com, you are always free to visit Jasmine Black's website, listed on my bio. All my stories, as well as the stories of other fantastic writer's, reside there. Please feel free to visit, and always e- mail me at megx87@yahoo.com with suggestions you may have.
So please, READ AND REVIEW!!! I would be please to hear your comments!
Author's Note: Thank you for reading this fan fiction. I have hit a few snags along the way, but so far it is turning out quite well and I hope that you like it. If you like this story, you may also like my Lily and James fiction titled The Pranking War, which though it starts like any other love/hate story turns out quite different. Also, if you are a fan of fantasy/sword and sorcery stories, you may like to check out my original stories on fictionpress.net, under the pen name Megx. Please READ AND REVIEW!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any character out of this story except for Cory Johnson and the plot, too. So please don't try and sue me, all I've got anyway is...well, nothing.
Chapter Ten
There was nothing more nerve-wracking than being captain of the Quidditch team, as Harry soon found out.
He had always thought the former captain, Oliver Wood, to be a bit mental at times---now he understood why. Every time he met up with another Gryffindor in the hall---whatever year they might be in---the first thing he heard was "Hey Potter, gonna get us the championship this year, right?" It was beginning to make him ill.
What little comfort he had was that every other team in the school was getting a new captain as well. He hadn't been surprised that Draco Malfoy was made captain of the Slytherins---it was well known that, with his father's money and influence, he could take any position on the team he wanted, which was why Harry highly suspected Malfoy had even made it on the team as Seeker in the first place.
A bit more of a shock---and not to mention a sore spot for Harry---was the appointment of Cho Chang as Ravenclaw captain. She was seeker as well, and Harry in the past couple of years had developed a bit of a fancy for her. However, she had been dating Cedric Diggory, and now Cedric was dead. He had made it a point to avoid her in the hall---he knew she wouldn't try and force it out of him, but he knew that when he got a chance to talk to her he would have to recount Cedric's final moments and...that wasn't something he was ready for. Not yet. Not ever.
The Hufflepuffs, of course, had elected a new captain and found a new seeker for their team. Theirs was the only team that didn't have a Seeker as captain, because the Seeker was a feisty little second year who, despite was she said, no doubt could never lead a team on her own. Instead they had chosen their Keeper as captain.
With the buzz of Quidditch and the excitement over the appointment of new positions on the teams, Harry found it hard to concentrate on any of his schoolwork, which he found to be a sore point with Hermione.
"Come on Harry," she moaned one morning as they were going to History of Magic class, "you have to pay attention, at least for a little while. Binns mentioned he would be telling of the little history known about Hogwarts. If that isn't on the exam, then I don't know what would be."
"I'd pay attention if I could, Hermione. It's hard though. You'd think a class taught by a ghost would be more exciting."
Hermione sighed resignedly. "Listen, boring or not, we can't afford for you to make bad grades now. Not since your prefect AND captain of the team."
"I've never made bad grades before." He muttered, raking a hand through his hair to make it stand on end.
"No. Average. Repeat after me...av-er-age. You can do better, Harry, I know you can. If you just..."
"Listen!" he said loudly, making her and a few people standing about in the halls freeze. He glared at the others, making them leave quickly. "Listen," he hissed when they were alone. "Not everybody can be a genius like you, okay? I know I'm average---which is fine. I'm not obsessed with being the best, contrary to what everybody thinks. In fact, I'd be giddy if people thought less of me."
Hermione flushed red. "It...it isn't that Harry. People don't expect you to be any less than you are. I mean, you're a great wizard. And you can't say you're average---not when both of us know better than that. I mean, how many wizards could make a Patronus in their third year? I couldn't even do that."
"Yeah." Harry sighed. "But...I don't even know how I did that. I've tried to explain it to you. You're supposed to be thinking of your happiest memory, and then it comes to you but...I wasn't really thinking at all. It was the time switch---I'd seen myself do it, and I knew I could, so I didn't have to think all that happy thoughts..."
Hermione was looking at him intently. When he paused she shook her head. "No, I don't understand it either. I read up on the Patronus, and it just doesn't seem to fit...how it worked with you and all. But then, you've always been different Harry."
"Don't remind me." They were silent as they walked the final hall down to the History of Magic classroom. Ron was already seated when they walked in.
"Hey," he whispered in irritation, "where were you guys?"
"Talking." Hermione mouthed, setting down her books beside Ron. Harry took the final seat and pulled out his quill and parchment which, instead of being covered in notes as Hermione had dolefully pointed they should have been, held a list of names Harry was considering as new Keeper. Ron was at the top of the list.
He glanced up as he heard Professor Binns enter the room through the blackboard. Even that had happened with such regularity it didn't seem exciting anymore. The only time anything remotely exciting had happened in this room had been in second year, when Hermione had pressed Binns to tell about the fabled Chamber of Secrets, which had turned out to be so much more than a legend.
Looking back down at his notes, he began to hastily scribble down the traits that he felt would work well with the team. Agility, though important, was not the top issue...the Weasley twins were excellent Beaters, and kept the Bludgers away from the team with great accuracy. Endurance---that wasn't an issue as much as it could have been. Harry, if the case called for it, had been known to capture the Snitch in less than five minutes.
That left speed and response time. These were the things Harry finally decided would be the most important to look for---these were the things that would most benefit the team. He had just come to this decision when he noticed that Professor Binns was staring right at him, as was the rest of the class.
He froze, because not only was he prickling under their scrutiny, he had absolutely no idea what they were looking at him for.
"Well?" Binns said, making Harry jump.
"Well what?" he replied sheepishly, turning red despite himself.
Binns coughed---or at least made some noise that Harry assumed to be one of indignation, and frowned. "Mr. Patterson, I was just saying that the Avada Kedavra curse, which was invented in the same year that this school was founded, had never been survived by any person in history, and Miss Gangford here told me that in fact, you had survived it. Is this true?"
"Excuse me...what?!" Harry realized that he had gone pale. Lavender Brown was snickering behind her hand and Neville was staring at Binns in amazement.
"You...you don't know about Harry, sir?" Ron asked finally, his look just as shocked as everybody else's. "He...he defeated You-Know-Who...when he was only a year old..."
Binns put his hand at his temple and thought back as if he were trying to recollect something. "Now...well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do recall...how odd, that I should forget, I don't know why these things don't seem to matter as much now, as they used to..."
"Do you...do you think maybe it's because...well, because you're dead?"
Binns got an odd look on his face. "Dead? What are you..." and he froze. Slowly he looked down at himself---transparent and hovering several feet from the ground. "I'm...dead...oh...my..." With that a horrified look appeared on his face and he quickly zoomed back through the blackboard. The last thing anybody heard was, "WHY DIDN'T ANYBODY TELL ME I WAS DEAD!!!" screeched through the halls.
"Wow...way to go Hermione." Ron muttered. A look of terror crossed over her face.
"I didn't mean to...oh, no..."
"It's all right." Cory said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I think it's time he got a wake up call...or a death call is more like it."
"At least class wasn't boring for a change." Harry muttered. And, despite himself, he felt a little charge of determination go through him---for the first time since entering the magical world there had been somebody--- albeit a ghost---who hadn't known who he was.
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"All right, we're sharing the field with the Ravenclaws for today's Quidditch team auditions. We have the west half, and they have the east half. So far, we only need a Keeper for the team---but we will be taking reserves players, so at least eight players today will be getting a place." Harry sighed as he ran his hand across his forehead. He had his trusty Firebolt slung across his back and couldn't wait to try it out with the new features Mr. Weasley had helped install.
The hopefuls sat across from him on the benches, all with their brooms at their feet. Colin and Dennis Creevey were there---he guessed mostly to watch him, as they had brought a camera. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan also were sitting there. Ron of course had come, complete with the broom Mr. Weasley had somehow gotten for him---an obviously secondhand Nimbus Two- Thousand, which appeared to be in good condition despite noticeable wear on the handle.
To his surprise, Ginny Weasley was also there, shooting both Harry and her brother long glances through her lashes. Beside her was Neville Longbottom, who was clutching his broom so tightly his knuckles were turning white.
"Okay..." Harry said after a moment. "The Weasley twins have the sign-up sheet. Please put down your name and positions...and sign on the line."
"What's that for?" Neville said suspiciously. Harry blanched.
"It's just in case anybody gets injured...scrapes, broken bones, anything like that." Neville gulped.
He watched the list as people began signing it. The Creevey brothers were trying for reserve Seekers---both of them. Harry could guess why. Ginny also was trying out for Seeker. Dean and Seamus signed to try for both Beater and Keeper. Ron of course, tried for Keeper. Neville, who couldn't quite decided what he wanted to do, signed for everything except Seeker, as it was well known to be the most dangerous position on a Quidditch team, and the one most likely to be injured in a match.
A few more second years ran panting up to sign the list. Harry only noticed a few, a fact that made him uncomfortable as they stared at him with such reverence. When they were all done, he stepped back to look at them.
"Okay..." he said. "We're going to be starting in a minute. Everybody take a few practice laps around, and the Weasley twins will explain the obstacle course we've set up for you. I'll be up in a minute to watch."
They all nodded. Even Ron, who would usually have stayed behind to talk to Harry, went up without a word. He appeared rather green, and stricken with nerves.
He turned just in time to see Cory and Hermione walking up to him. "What?" he said quizzically. "Are you trying out too?"
"Heavens no." Hermione said, a look of amusement on her face. "I might come to all the games, root for Gryffindor and all that, but I'm not exactly the sports fanatic. And as Cory was just kindly informing me, she's afraid of heights."
"'Mione!" Cory gasped, giving Hermione a slight shove on the shoulder. "You prat! I didn't say I was scared of them...I said I just didn't like them."
"Oh, Cory...Harry's your friend, he understands, don't you?"
Harry, keen to be in on the joke, grinned. "Of course. You really don't mind them anymore after falling off your broomstick for the fifth or sixth time."
Cory turned in exasperation to Hermione. "See, his brain's been damaged. And just how many times has he been hit in the head with a bludger, I'd like to know?"
"Oh, only a couple." He snorted. "And it didn't do much, really. I still know my name is Herbert Patterson."
Cory rolled her eyes. "You see? You see what Quidditch has done to him? Not only that, spending all his time with the Weasley twins...it's driven him to madness."
"You only know the half of it." Hermione muttered. Harry grinned.
"All right...amusing as this is, I've got to get up there. Gred and Forge need me to start surveying the troops, before we go into battle."
Hermione and Cory looked at each other, rolling their eyes in unison. Shrugging, he mounted his broom and took off into the air, feeling the surge of freedom he always felt on broomstick.
If the Firebolt had been amazing before, it was miraculous now. It turned almost as if by his thought alone, and when he speeded up from a hovering position, within seconds, everybody around him was a blur. He zipped around the hopefuls, zooming mere inches from Ron's long nose. He was already on the other side of the field when Ron finally got the nerves back to call after him.
"Okay, Potter, enough of this!" Fred called. "You're captain. You're supposed to lead us, oh wise and great captain. Teach us to fly like the Hippogriff, to soar like a majestic Griffin..."
"To spout manure like a Dragon." Ron shouted when Fred paused to think of another part to his soliloquy. "But I think you've got that part down pat."
Everybody went off into roars off laughter. "Remind me to kill him for thinking he could be the comedian here." Fred muttered to George so that only Harry could here. He grinned widely.
"Okay. Okay, you've all had the obstacle course explained to you?" He said. They all nodded. "Fine then. I'll be watching from the ground. Fred and George will be refereeing up here, and I don't doubt they'll turn you into rabbits in an instant," he snickered, as Ron scowled, "so no funny business." They all nodded. "On Fred's whistle then...go!"
The whistle blew and they took off, one by one. It began with a test of strength---the Weasley twins took turns shooting bludgers at the person being tested, and that person in turn had to use a beater's club to knock them back as far as they could get them.
"Ron's obviously not a beater." Harry heard a snicker behind him. Cory and Hermione were sitting on the bench, heads together. Hermione glared at Cory. "Well, he's not." She said. "Look---he can hit them all right, but he hasn't the strength to get them very far. A few feet before they turn right back at him." Harry glanced at Ron to see that she was right. A few had already hit him in the ribs---Harry didn't have to imagine how sore Ron would be in the morning, after his own experiences with the bludgers.
Fred blew his whistle. "Next challenge. Go!" Ron dropped the club and sped towards the chaser challenge. Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell were tossing two red quaffles about and took a place on either side of Ron. At Fred's signal they began vigorously tossing them to Ron, who had to dart forward and try to get them into the goals as accurately as possible.
"Not a chaser, either." Hermione muttered, though she was loath to speak ill of her...friend. Ron was able to catch the quaffles as quickly as they were tossed to him, but could not throw them into the small hoops with timely precision. After twenty attempts and only three goals, Fred shook his head. "Next challenge." George was now starting Seamus Finnigan on the beater challenge.
Ron left Katie and Angelina in annoyance, shoving the quaffle at Angelina, who reeled backwards. "Hey!" Fred shouted with menacing tones. "That's twenty points for assaulting a head girl!"
"Shove it, Fred." Angelina grinned. "You think he would get twenty points taken away for hurting me?" she batted her lashes.
"Who said they were going to be taken off?" Fred murmured, as if the fact were obvious. George sighed.
"Yes, yes. We all know you two fancy each other. Now would you please get on with the show?"
"Fine then, Ron, onto the Keeper part of the challenge." Ron grinned, obviously sure that he had found his forte. Alicia Spinnet, the final chaser, held a quaffle in her hands. Ron would be in charge of protecting the five hoops behind him.
"You ready?" she shouted. Ron nodded.
"Ready when...oof!" he choked. Alicia had just sent the quaffle careening into Ron's stomach.
"All...ow..." She grinned.
"Constant vigilance...eh, Harry?"
"Erm...right." he responded, though he did not like to be reminded of last years encounter with Barty Crouch, disguised as Mad-Eye Moody.
Ron had turned red. "That's it." he whispered so Harry only knew what he said by reading his lips. Alicia sent another Quaffle rocketing towards Ron. This time he was able to go after it, catching it as it neared a hoop. He threw it back at her and caught another that almost went over his left shoulder.
"Well, well..." Cory sighed. "It appears as if Ron might just actually be good at a position."
"Yeah..." Hermione said in amazement. Harry was watching also. He hadn't realized Ron actually was pretty good---he guessed he hadn't gotten that much from the games played back at The Burrow. Though he was quite unpolished---definitely not quite Keeper material yet---he could see that Ron, with a little training, could make quite the outstanding Keeper.
Out of thirty, he only let six goals pass. He smiled. "Told you I was good, Harry." He shouted. "Out of fifty at the Starlight Festival, I didn't even let one pass. Today was an off day!"
Harry laughed. Fred smiled, clapping Ron on the arm. "How sad, to see ickle Ronniekins growing up. Why George, just yesterday I remember mum telling him to make sure he was washing behind the ears and keeping clean knickers on his bum..."
"Why, that was yesterday you twit." George said loudly. "Didn't you read the letter mum sent him?"
Ron scowled. "You two..."
"No, no, don't thank us for our guidance. We've gotten you where you are today, you don't have to remind us. Just be glad we're here for you, Ronniekins. And now, if you'll be so kind, we have one final competition for you...find the Snitch!"
He clapped Ron on the back and left. On the paper besides Ron's name, a small hourglass appeared, indicating the time that had passed. Whoever caught a snitch in the shortest amount of time would receive fifty extra points to the days score, and position of reserve seeker on the team.
Harry turned his attention away from Ron as he began zooming about in search of the golden snitch. He watched Dean and Seamus---both showed potential to be either incredible beaters or chasers---the Creevey brothers, who Harry guessed could be trained up for position of chaser, and started marking down positions for the other second years that had shown up for the audition.
Finally Ginny flew up, blushing to the roots of her hair. "Okay, little sis." Fred said. "You're up." She flushed even redder and began the competition.
She was hit by thirteen bludgers. However, as chaser she made every single attempted goal, save for one, when Harry had began applauding for her, and she had turned to look, dropping the Quaffle at the same time. She blushed even redder.
"There's one of your reserve chasers." Harry glanced over as a new voice cut through the raucous noise of the players.
"Oh...hi, Cho." She sat down beside Cory.
"Hey, Harry. I've been watching some of your players. They are all quite good. Gryffindor is going to be a tough competitor this year for the cup."
"And I'm sure Ravenclaw will be too." Harry said. "Hopefully we'll have some good competition this year, though Malfoy's captain of Slytherin, and without Cedric..." he froze, realizing what he just said. "Oh, Cho...I really didn't mean...I was just..."
"No, Harry. Don't be sorry. I understand. " She turned her face up to the people on broomstick. She chuckled as Ginny squawked---the fifth quaffle had just passed her. "As I said, a good chaser---not a keeper or beater though. I think we need to talk later, Harry. About..."
"Of course." Cory cut in, smiling cheerfully. "But we can't let you be spying on us, can we? Never know...you might try and..."
She never finished what she was saying. A loud cry came from the Ravenclaw side as one of the goals fell over, knocking a third year from her broom. "Oh, no!" Cho shouted, getting to her feet. "What happened?"
"I...it looks like somebody used a spell. Probably some stupid Slytherin. You'd better go." Cory urged. Harry got the strong suspicious she wanted Cho to leave. Secretly, he was glad.
"Oh, okay...bye, then!" She barely stayed to say the last word as she ran fiercely to the group forming around the fallen girl.
"Wonder what happened?" Hermione said thoughtfully. "Wonder who did that spell? I don't see anybody with a wand around here."
Harry shrugged as he turned to watch the last competitor. Neville Longbottom. He was hit at least twenty times by the bludgers. He didn't get one goal. He let every single quaffle pass, and by the time he had gotten to the seeker part of the challenge, he looked quite shaken indeed.
Only Ron and the younger Creevey brother had managed to catch the snitch, in twenty-five and twenty three minutes respectively. Dennis had come back to the ground, to sit happily beside Harry, but Ron remained in the air, contentedly testing out his broom.
Neville saw the snitch at the same time Harry did. Squeezing his eyes shut, he zoomed after it, not noticing...
"Hey!" Ron shouted, when he was knocked off his broom by Neville's plump figure. He held on tightly to his broom as he went crashing down to the ground. His broom was beneath him when he collided with the earth, and he went green when he heard the sickening crunch of snapping wood.
"Oh please...please no..." he murmured as he got up sorely on hands and needs. The broom lay on the ground, bent at an odd angle---definitely broken.
"I...I'm sorry Ron. I didn't mean..." Ron got to his feet slowly and turned to Neville.
"You, you stupid..."
"I really...please, I'm sorry..." Neville began backing away when he saw the look on Ron's face.
"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO GET THAT BROOM?!" Ron shouted, standing inches away from Neville's face.
"Ron, please..."
"THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW! I'VE PUT UP WITH YOU FOR FOUR YEARS ALREADY AND I CAN'T---TAKE---IT---ANY---MORE!!!" Neville was shaking as he began backing away.
"Ron, don't do this..." Hermione said, running to his side. "He didn't mean..."
"No! He never means to do anything! This is it! I won't put up with it!"
Cory was sitting up, staring at him. Hermione had her hand on his arm, trying to calm him. "Forget it," Hermione said sharply. "It's only a broom."
"Only a broom?" Ron shouted. "It took my dad my entire life to get that for me, and I'll never get another one!"
"Ron...you can...you can have mine..." Neville whimpered. Ron looked at it in disgust.
"Keep it." he said darkly. He turned away and began walking to the showers.
Hermione ran after him. "Listen...Ron, you shouldn't do this..."
"Don't try and make me change my mind." Ron sneered. "It won't change a thing." He looked at Neville, who was now shaking all over. "And don't think I'll regret what I said, either." He muttered. "Just be glad he doesn't have parents...then they don't have to see what an idiot their son turned out to be."
Everybody went quiet and turned to stare at Ron. Harry felt his heart sink to his stomach. Ron, who had realized what he just said, paled. "No...I didn't mean..."
"Of course you did." Harry said darkly. "What's your problem? Sometimes I think I don't even know you, Ron."
"But...but..." Neville, whimpering, turned and began running back to the castle.
"What gives you the right to say things like that?" Harry said loudly. Only he was talking, and even the Ravenclaws had now turned to watch. "You of all people."
"You're...you're taking his side? He destroyed my broom!"
Harry snorted. "Yes, and a broom matters so much. Is that what you said to yourself last year, when we were fighting? Have you ever thought to yourself that you were glad MY parents are dead? That it's good they didn't see what I turned out to be?" Would you say that if I wasn't exactly the smartest person in school?"
"But...Harry, you're my friend!"
"So is Neville." Harry said darkly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go talk to my good friend, Neville." He turned and walked quickly back to the castle. He only just heard Ginny whisper, "Do you think he noticed I caught the snitch in four minutes?"
He raced back to the common room. "Password?" The fat lady asked.
"Expecto...no, that was last weeks...Canis Majoris?"
"Right. That plump boy didn't know it, so I couldn't let him in...he said something about going to the library."
Harry, without thinking, turned right around and ran to the library, leaving the portrait swinging open. Snape saw him and shouted---Harry didn't even notice. He turned a corner and jogged in, ignoring Madam Pince's roving eyes. "Neville!" he whispered.
"Leave me alone." Harry glanced towards the restricted section. Neville was sitting at a table beside the out of bounds books, his head in his hands.
"Neville, are you all right?" Harry muttered, sitting right next to him.
"I'm fine..." Harry shook his head.
"No. You're not. I wouldn't be either. Want to talk about it?"
"I...just leave me alone, all right Harry. You wouldn't understand."
Harry crossed him arms and raised a brow. "Wouldn't I?" Neville turned bright red and looked up.
"Oh...see, I am an idiot...I...forgot...I'm so stupid." His eyes were swollen and red, and he looked extremely tired.
"No, you're not an idiot. You're better than I am at Herbology...and even in Potion's you can fix a potion...well, when you have the recipe right in front of you, at least."
Neville snorted, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "Don't try and make me feel better." He muttered miserably. "Ron was right---even though I think he was horrible for saying it." Harry snorted. "But...sometimes..." he flushed brightly, "sometimes I am glad that my parent's don't know me...they'd be so disappointed."
"They wouldn't be." Harry said darkly. "Believe me. I've lived so much of my life doing stupid things and wondering what my mum and dad would have thought. And then, when I get something right, I can't help but wonder if I would have made them proud. It gets you nowhere. But you still have to do it."
Neville nodded. "Yeah. I understand." He sat back. "Now, I can't help but think my dad would...call me a sissy, or something. Crying, and I'm fifteen years old. He wasn't a sissy. He was an auror. Did I ever tell you that, Harry?"
Harry knew, of course---he had seen it in Dumbledore's pensieve. But he didn't want Neville to know that, so he shook his head. "No. I've never heard anything about your parents."
"They were both aurors." He said, sighing. "They got a lot of death eaters. They were even after You-Know-Who. Then...well, you know, you got him, of course. My gram said she was never happier than when he was killed...before then she was always afraid You-Know-Who would get them."
"So...he didn't kill them?" Harry prompted, attempting to get Neville to tell the tale on his own terms.
"No." he finally said, after debating with himself for a long moment. "No, he didn't. But after he went away..." he gulped, wiping his eyes again. "Well, some death eaters came...they used the Cruciatus curse on them, and tried to make them tell where You-Know-Who was. They didn't know, of course, but those...they didn't stop."
"And...what happened?" Harry said softly, putting a hand on Neville's shoulder.
"They...went mad. They're in St. Mungo's. They...they can't remember anything. They don't talk to me, they just...stare. And ask who I am, and why I'm there. One time I tried to tell them...tried to make them understand. Then they just stared at me...and didn't say anything. Everytime I visit...every vacation...I still hope that it'll be the time one of them finally remembers me. But I guess it's too late, huh Harry?"
"No." Harry said hoarsely. "You still have hope, Neville. They could find a cure someday. They could find a cure for whatever madness they have. But...well, they can't find a cure for being dead, can they? I'll never even get the chance to meet my parents. So I don't know what's worse."
"What do you mean?" Neville sniffed.
"Well..." Harry said softly. "You have parents here, but they can't tell who you are. They don't know you. And them being alive is like a constant reminder that they are here. But you still have hope. And I...well, I don't have hope of knowing them, but then I don't have to watch them like that. But this scar...everybody knows who I am, and that's a constant reminder. So...Neville, just don't forget. You can talk to me."
Neville looked at Harry for a long moment before smiling. "Yeah...yeah, of course. Thanks Harry. You're...you're the best friend I've got." He stood up and left Harry alone in the library.
Harry watched him as he left. And realized that in this small conversation with Neville, he had answered questions he himself had been wondering for fourteen years.
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Wow! Thank you for the reviews, those few people that have reviewed me! I know, this chapter is a lot longer than my usual ones, but this chapter had personal meaning, and I felt it was time Harry and Neville had a little heart to heart.
Please don't forget to read my other stories! If you are too lazy to go to fictionpress.com, you are always free to visit Jasmine Black's website, listed on my bio. All my stories, as well as the stories of other fantastic writer's, reside there. Please feel free to visit, and always e- mail me at megx87@yahoo.com with suggestions you may have.
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