Chapter Eighteen
Smiling at Death
Week faded into one another. Harry didn't have as much free time as he thought he would. Between Potions, Transfiguration, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts, he had hours upon hours of homework every night. Angel's classed were going better than he thought they would. Occlumency and Legilimency wasn't as hard as Snape made it be; Divinations was actually pretty cool once Harry got into it but the Animagius class wasn't going as good as he hoped. He would leave the class aching and sore all over. Angel told him it shouldn't hurt as bad as he said it did. maybe he was doing something wrong.
And on top of it all, there was DA every second Monday night followed with the daily Quidditch Practice that flowed into dark. Katie was elected Captain at the end of last year and we doing a fair good job, though she didn't get a very good third chaser. His name was Jason Wood a.k.a Talker because he never shut up. he made Mark look like he never opened his mouth. So with all the spare time Harry didn't have and the new understanding about the prophecy, at least with Ron, Harry was doing okay. Nothing very intent happened. Teachers would leave for nights and weekends and Charlie would popped up every now and again. but the castle was as normal as possible for the wizarding world and it stayed that way till at least the end of October.
"2 roll description of the star potion." Harry sighed. "Hermione would you."
"No, I'm sorry Harry." Hermione said automatically.
"But I have."
"No Harry."
"Ron."
"Here mate." Ron slid Harry his rolls and grinned at Hermione discussed face. "What?" Ron shrugged innocently.
"UGH!" Hermione slammed her books shut and marched away from them.
"She's been off lately." Ron said.
"Yeah," Harry said airily, coping Ron's homework.
"I wonder what she's thinking." Ron said with a sigh.
Harry looked up from his writing and grinned. "Do you now?"
"Yeah, what the hell goes though that girl's mind?" Harry gave another board grin. "Okay then." Harry cleared his throat and searched Hermione's face for her eyes. Finally she tilted her head and the right angel. "Legilimens." Harry hissed.
.Hermione hunched over in the girls bathroom with sinks astray and a troll standing over her, Harry hanging onto his neck and Ron making his mallet float. a tall cat standing on two legs looking at him and Ron with sad eyes. Hermione hanging onto Harry's waist as they took off on Buckbeak.sitting next to Krum and looking over his shoulder at two wet boys, one with jet black hair and the other fiery red. Harry picking at his food, his head supported by his hand. Ron hugging Ginny on the train.
"Whoa." Harry blinks and broke the spell.
"What did you do?" Ron gasped, looking at Hermione's worried face.
"Nothing bad, just Legilimency."
"What'cha see?"
"Us."
"Excuse me?" Ron said, narrowing his eyebrows.
"Us. vision of stuff you and I did."
"Awe, she thinks about us." Ron held his hand to his heart.
"And you think about her." Harry teased, punching him in the shoulder.
"That was you!" Ron gasped, a wide smile on his face.
Harry grinned. Ron tackled him and pinned him to the floor. Second and Third years gathered around scarcely and laughed at them. After a minute, Harry ended up pinning Ron to the floor. "You like her don't you." Harry said smiling.
Ron punched him the stomach and rolled over him, now pinning him to the floor. "No Shit Sherlock. I wouldn't spend time with her if I didn't."
"You know what I mean."
Ron turned red a bit in the ears. "No I don't."
Harry smiled broadly and hit Ron one more time in the chest. He got up and went to finish his Potions homework. They spent the rest of their afternoon catching up on homework. At 3:30 they started packing up and making their way to Defense Against the Dark Art. By far, Angel was the coolest teacher Hogwarts had ever seen, although Remus gave her a run for her money. She would put a tickling curse on you if you did something wrong instead of taking away points and she would always give hearty points for a right answer. Her highest to date was one-hundred-million-trillion, which was pretty funning because she took away ninety-nine-million-trillion to the same person the next minute leaving them with one point. As far as subject wise though, she was hard. She had them categorize curses and hexes, then give description of them. It was more of a Dark Art's boot camp than Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Ron and Harry found a seat in the back and brought out their quills and parchment. The bell rang, but Angel wasn't there. Neville sat with Hermione in front of them. He was laughing at something Hermione whispered to him and was turning around to tell Ron and Harry when the door banged open.
Angel walked in; she was wearing all black which made her skin look very pale. The only real color was her eyes, but somehow they looked even deader. She sauntered to the front of the class. Everyone was sitting on edge waiting for her to break out into song or start dancing, but she sat down in the chair behind the desk. Some people gasped. Angel never sat down in the chair; never. it was curious why she even had one at all.
"Today we are going to be reading from the book." She said inattentively.
"What page?" Hermione piped.
"Ten points from Gryffindor. Hand Granger, God gave you one, use it." Angel barked, not looking up. "Whatever page you like, but read, if you don't read I'll have you outline the book entirely. Understood?"
"Yes Professor." The class said in unison. Everyone open up their books and stuck their nose in it. Harry stared at Angel. She was leaning on her desk her hands threaded though her hair. She looked up and Harry quickly opened his book, but she didn't notice. Her glance went to Neville. A single solitary tear ran down her cheek.
Class reminded Harry greatly of when Umbridge taught it; staring at a page for an hour, words flying in and out of your eyes; could give you a head ache if you weren't careful. Finally, the bell rang and the class was out of the class faster than anyone had ever dared to leave before. Harry decided to wait on Neville who had lost something under the desk.
"Neville dear." Angel said to her hands, just loud enough for them to hear.
"Yes Professor." Neville answer quickly, afraid he was in trouble.
"Would you come here, I need to tell you something. Harry." She paused and looked up as though trying to make a decision. "Just go." She said flatly, motioning her hand to the door. Harry grabbed his book and dashed from the room as quickly as possible.
Harry went to dinner with Ron and they were still working on the finishing touches to the prank that would make the one on Percy look like a baby did it. They were laughing and carrying on, but Harry all of the sudden felt sick. The bottom dropped out of him. His heart felt frozen and it was like he was lost. He whipped his head around, still in the Great Hall, but seeming lost for direction.
"Harry mate, are you okay?" Ron said, laying a hand on his shoulder. Harry jerked around to look at him. He felt cold and he knew his face was drained of color. He took a breath and for some reason he thought of Neville, he looked down the table and up the other side, Neville Longbottom wasn't there.
"Ron." Harry finally said, "Where's Neville?"
Ron looked down the table and up the table just as Harry. He shrugged, put another fork full of mash potatoes in his mouth. "Don't know man."
Harry still felt chilled and lost, but he managed to laugh a bit and follow Ron back to the common room. He was sitting on the couch doing Charms when he found Neville.
The portrait whole opened and a white face, bug eyed Neville stumbled into view. "NEVILLE!" Harry cried, throwing his book to the floor and jumping up. "What's wrong?"
Neville turned his head a bit to look at him and gave a small smile. He pressed his lips together while a tear rained down his cheek. "And I feel relived." was all he said and possible all he could say. He forced a nervous laugh and continued on his way up stairs. He came back down five minutes later with a bag slung over his back and a shoe box. He nodded at Harry and Ron and left.
"Think we should follow him?" Ron asked when the portrait closed.
"I'll get the cloak." Harry dashed upstairs, got his father's cape and came back down.
Harry and Ron left the common room and threw the invisibility cloak over their heads. "Which way." Ron hissed.
"Great Hall." Harry said plainly. And they walked to the front door without a word.
When the got there all they could see was Angel with her arm around Neville helping him into a cart. "He's leaving?" Ron whispered.
Dumbledore stood on the road, waving till the cart could barely be seen. He turned and walked back to the front door. He stopped in front of them. "Harry, Ron." he sighed as though looking for word. "read about it tomorrow." And the old man swept by them.
"How did he see us?" Ron asked. But that wasn't the question rolling though Harry's mind. What was wrong with Neville and Angel. where were they going and what the hell would they read about tomorrow?
The next morning, Harry woke up like any other. He had a very strange dream, but that's all he could remember. it was strange. He rolled over and pulled on some cloths. It was Halloween. The Neville Longbottom question that had been flying though his head last night had somehow been lost. He woke up Ron and in minutes they were on their way down stairs.
When they entered the Great Hall it was quiet, which is very, very, extremely unusual for Hogwarts. There was a line at the High Table and kid, holding their arms where walking to it. Harry shrugged and follow suit. Everyone one looked dead, all white and eyes sunk in. Harry grabbed whatever he had been waiting for. It was a Daily Prophet.
"Longbottoms' Death", was the Head Line. Harry dropped the paper, only to snatch it off the ground again. He stumbled and ended up sitting down at the Ravenclaw table, transfixed on the print.
"Saint Mungo's Hospital for the Magical Maladies and Injuries was broken into yesterday after noon, writes Reporter Gus Looney. Three people were killed; an afternoon shift nurse, Millie Cortess and two of the patients, Frank Longbottom and his wife Alice Longbottom.
"The Longbottoms had a very special case for being in the Hospital and were and are still worships are heroes. Two week after young Harry Potter drained You-Know-Who of his powers; four of his followers broke into the Longbottom's home and kidnapped the husband and wife.
"For as far as we know, for days the pair was tortured to the blink of death for information of the where about of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and anything about what caused him to fall. The Longbottoms either didn't know or won't tell, but when fellow Auror and friend, Alastor Moody, found them, they were critically insane. And have been in the Saint Mungo's Hospital for fifteen years, leaving their then 1, now 16, year old son, Neville, in the guardianship of Frank's mother, Nana Longbottom."
Harry reread the article. he couldn't believe his eyes. This couldn't be true. Someone sat down next to him. "Sad isn't it." Luna whispered.
Harry nodded mouth to dry to speak.
"Read this one." Her long finger pointed at an article bellow the one on the Longbottoms.
"Insane Witness." The title read.
"Three beds over from the famous Auror couple, Frank and Alice Longbottom, was Gilderoy Lockhart. Writes reported Sarah Kidd. Four years ago, Lockhart was hit with his own memory charm and has been recovering in the same ward as the Longbottoms. He was in bed yesterday afternoon when they were killed.
"'I heard voices outside; Frankie and Alice were playing with these two other people. They were waving wands around and saying silly words.' Lockhart told the Minister and the Prophet. 'Naturally I wanted to play, but Millie told me I had to stay in bed no matter what.'
"When Investigators pressed Lockhart about the matter, they only got bits and pieces of hard evidence. One of the people was none other then Bellatrix Lestrange, one of the four, and the only one alive, who attacked the Longbottom the first time. The other one came as a serious surprise to the Minister.
"'Well, the girl kept calling the other one Weasley. what a funny name." Lockhart finally said. The whole Weasley family is under questioning.
"And the last fact we got out of Lockhart and probably the most heart breaking is this. 'Well, I was peering through my curtains and I saw the girl send sparks at Alice. Then she started screaming, "Neville! Neville! Help me!" I don't know why though. Neville is a funny little boy, comes around with his grandmother to visits Alice and Frankie. but neither of them knew who they were.'"
Harry dropped the news paper and didn't scramble to pick it up. Luna forced a weak smile at him, got up and left. "Harry. what's going on?" Ron sat down beside him next. "Everyone is staring at me. do I have something on my forehead?" He teased
Harry's eyes got big as he rounded on Ron. "Where's Ginny?"
Yet, without waiting for a reply, Harry jumped up and searched for a red head at Gryffindor Table. She was sitting there, picking at her eggs, no doubt noticing all the funny looks coming her way.
"Ginny, Ron, read this." Harry forced the paper at them and they read, their eyes getting bigger the farther they got down.
"Poor Neville." Ginny sighed.
"Read this too." Harry pointed at the Lockhart article. Ron shot him a confused look, but did as he was told.
Ginny dropped the paper when she finished. "Percy." Ron hissed with rage. "I'll kill that little shit if it the last thing I do."
The three of them ate in silence. Hermione was about as edgy around them as everyone else. They were the three other kids mentioned in the article besides Neville. since Neville wasn't here to be edgy around; they took it up it upon themselves to stretch it to Harry, Ron and Ginny. Ginny, got the worst of it, at least Harry and Ron had each other. Ginny had Luna and not to be rude, but she's not a tender around such subjects. Classes went on as normal that Friday.
Charms and Potions was as boring as ever and for some reason Snape had a spring in his step and his face was paler than ever. By lunch everyone knew almost everything. They naturally guessed it was Percy. Charlie, Bill, Fred and George were too cool to do anything that low and Mr. And Mrs. Weasley were too sweet. Ginny and Ron were at Hogwarts. so that left nasty, bossy Percy.
Harry said good bye to Ron and made his way to the dungeons for animagius lessons, which by now, he seriously wanted to quit. Every time he tried to change part of his body into a stag, it hurt, like someone stretching his skin. Angel told him he was just over exaggerating, but now, every time he even thought about a stag, his gut twisted.
When he walked into the classroom, Angel was sitting on the desk. She had gotten back earlier that morning, but hadn't shown up for any meals. Her hair was twisted up in a tight bun at the nape of her neck, she was wearing black pants, a black tank top and her Black family robes with the crest on the chest. She had a suitcase sitting beside her. "Oh, there you are Harry." She said, forcing a smile. She pushed a stray hair out of her face before she spoke. "Neville has asked you, Ron, Ginny." Angel took a piece of parchment from her pocket. "Dean, Seamus, and Hermione..." She folded the note and returned it to her pocket, "to come to his parents funeral."
"When is it?" Harry said tonelessly.
"Sunday. But, we're leaving tonight, the whole Weasley family has a hearing tomorrow at the Minister and Ron and Ginny are suppose to be there." Angel said matter of factly.
"How's Neville?"
"Shocked. hadn't said a word since I told him though." Angel said to her hands.
He said something to Harry though. he whispered words through his tears and Harry had no idea what they meant, he just thought it was an off the wall remark.
After Dinner, Ron, Seamus, Dean, Hermione, Ginny and Harry all made their way down the Hogwarts Express. Angel was with them. They sat in a compartment very close to the front; away form the moppy looking witches and odd tone wizards that got on from Hog Mead. On the way there, Angel explained the Order to Dean and Seamus and how it worked and that they would be staying there. The two, against everything that was happening, thought it was the coolest thing ever.
Early that morning, just as light was dawning, the train stopped on Platform nine and three quarters. They dashed by the Order, ("Wow!" breathed Seamus and Dean when they saw the house) to drop off their bags off.
The whole Weasley family, minus Percy, was sitting in the kitchen. Mr. Weasley was sitting next to Mrs. Weasley talking to her under his breath. She was crying and kept saying "no", Fred and George, for the first time since Harry met them, were quiet and frowning. Bill had his head buried in his hands. Ginny ran over to him and hugged his shoulders, tears running down her cheeks. Charlie jumped up when Angel entered the room. Angel smiled sadly at him. Ron, whispering to Harry that he couldn't take this, left with Dean and Seamus to show them around. Harry and Hermione sat down next to the twins, trying to make them smile.
"Percy was at school last month; Ron turned him into a Weasel." Harry said softly.
"Should have kept him that way," Fred sneered nastily.
"Fred, no" Bill said through his hands.
"Oh, Bill, it'll be okay." Ginny soothed here eldest brother.
Bill looked up and his eyes fell on his father. Author Weasley nodded sadly. "Weasley's let's go." They all nodded and stood and left the room without a word.
Ron, Seamus and Dean met them the stairs, all red with laughter. But the faint smiles whipped from their face. Harry and Hermione trailed behind to wait on them. They followed the red head crowd out of the house and to the car they took to King Cross.
At the Ministry, Angel led the way. She had somehow changed from when they arrived and was now wearing a briskly pressed shirt and slacks with her best robes. Her hair was loose and curled. She led the parade inside, her head held high. that Sirius elegance. The court room was over flowed just as it was the day Angel brought Harry, Ron and Hermione there for Pettigrew's trail. They were seated at the front row, since ten people could not sit at the table in front.
"Yes. yes. yes." Fudge sighed when they were all seated. "Dodgy business this is, dodge indeed." He shook his head.
They wasted about twenty minutes going through everyone's names, all the Weasley's (Percy had joined them) Angel and all the people sitting behind Fudge.
"Yes, well. let's begin with Ronald Paden and Virginia Whitten." Fudge said.
"Hogwarts." Angel said shortly.
"Witnesses."
"Four." Angel pointed at Harry, Hermione, Seamus and Dean.
"Very well. As in the case of Ronald Paden Weasley and Virginia Whitten Weasley, innocent." As Fudge spoke a pokey little witch scribbled hurriedly. "Now then, we have seven more of you to go, so before we waste time, are any of you going to confess?"
Angel looked at them. "Sir, might I add that Gilderoy Lockhart is legally insane."
"Yes, but it is hard evidence. If all the Weasley's are cleared than it will be okay, but the state of the witness is not a factor at the time, Angel." Fudge said firmly.
Angel looked at Mr. Weasley. He nodded slightly. Percy's eyes grew big and buried his head in his hands. Charlie grabbed Angel's hand, she was shaking.
"I did it."
Harry and Ron both jerk their head toward who said it. Mr. Weasley was standing up, his head hung low. Mrs. Weasley had gone into a fit of tears, Bill rocking her softly in his arms. Angel had buried her face in Charlie's shoulder. Harry looked and Ron. His face was white. He turned back. Two officers were leading Mr. Weasley away with the same uncertainty they did with Mr. Diggory. Percy was looking at his farther admirably, his face twisted in horror and mouth open in shook.
The court room emptied out and they were the only ones left in the court room. "Angel," She turned her face out of Charlie's shoulder to look up. Fudge was standing beside her. "I know Mr. Weasley didn't do it. He was in his office when I got the call. I don't know which of you he was protecting." There was a pause. "But you better be right thankful. He'll be lucky if the court doesn't decide to kill him."
Mrs. Weasley went into an uncontrollable rage of tears, Percy stood up and pushed his way though them and left. Slowly, they stood, Bill helping his mother, and they left the Ministry.
"Charlie. I have something I need to get." Angel said when they made it to the street.
"What is it?" Charlie asked.
Angel opened her eyes wide and cocked her head a bit. "Oh. OH. that. right away.." Charlie turned and helped everyone into the car and took off, leaving Angel at the Minister.
That night was no doubt the saddest that God awful house had seen. Mrs. Weasley spent the day locked in one of the extra bed rooms crying; Fred, George, Bill and Ginny just sat at the table staring at each other; Charlie and Angel were locked up in Sirius's old room after Angel got there an hour after they did. Tonks, Remus, Diggle, Moody and Dung were fixing dinner for them.
"Why would dad do that for him?" Ron screamed. Him, Harry, Dean, Seamus and Hermione had slipped into the extra room Angel had showed them.
"I don't know." Hermione said innocently.
Harry stared at the ground, "He loves Percy."
"How can he? Percy had, is and will always be a git!" Dean announced.
"Yeah, but he's his son. It's just like what Mrs. Pettigrew did for Wormtail."
"I missed this one." Seamus said.
Harry told him about Peter and Sirius and how Peter's mum saved him when Cedric dad's tried to avenge his death.
"That's thick." Seamus said when he finished. "I still don't get it though. Percy had turned his back on you all and when he cried help, your dad runs out to save him."
"He's just made some bad choices, it doesn't make him a bad person. " Hermione said.
"Oh, listen to your self Hermione!" Dean said.
"No, it's not like that either. When something like this or what happened to Mrs. Pettigrew. you forget everything except that they're your family."
"But all the things he said to him Harry. About not having proper money, about being a lazy, muggle loving git. no one in their right mind would talk to their father like that." Ron said, throwing his hands in the air.
"We all say things we don't mean." Harry said.
"Grow up Harry." Ron snapped, "I mean this, if I ever see Percy Weasley again I'll skin the little bastard. Turning him into a Weasel is just the start of it."
"Ron, let him fight himself." Hermione said.
"What?" Dean choked.
"Didn't you see the look on his face today in there. he looked ashamed."
"He damn right should be." Ron said.
"Ron, he's fighting himself. he'll end up doing the right thing."
"Well, he should start doing it now! Dad doesn't deserve the punishment!"
Harry leaned back in the chair, and closed his eyes. Happy Halloween. He thought. Everything happens on Halloween and even though the last day of October was the day before. it all seemed like one very long, very bad day.
It was dark. Moon was shining through the wall size window and casting a light onto the floor. Harry rolled over in dream not excepting his face to come inches with another. He didn't know how it happened or exactly what happened, but his eyes shot open. Someone was knelt down beside his bed. "Sirius." He said quietly.
"No, Angel. And get up; I want to show you something." Harry messed with his hair a bit and put his glasses on his head.
Angel was grinning ear to ear. There was slight skip in her step when she walked. She led Harry down to her room and pushed the door open. The room looked different in the dark, especially that looming blue light. Harry, nearly to tried to walk, collapsed onto Sirius's bed.
Angel sat at the foot, shaking nervously. "Isn't it great!" Angel said excitedly.
"Isn't what great?" Harry said sleepily, his eyes closing and shutting
Angel smiled wider, nearly cracking her face. She reached over, grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him into the sit. She put her hand on either side of his head and directed his eyes to something in the corner. Harry blinked. He nudged Angel's hands away from him and rubbed his eyes. he must be seeing things.
There in the corner of the room was an arch with a veil ruffling covering it. Looming blue light came from behind the veil.
"Si.Sirius." Harry stammered. He felt his throat lose tone and his eyes watered. He looked at it more closely then he did while in the Department of Mysteries. The veil was a dark blue, almost black. The arch was old, and cracking. On the top of the arch were the words, "The Next Great Adventure."
"How.. Where..?" Harry stammered.
"Well, I stole it." Angel said brightly. "Shrunk it and carried it out in my bag."
"Couldn't you get in trouble?" Harry said quickly.
"Only if I get caught. But, I won't. Even if they knew it was me, that couldn't lock me up unless they had the arch and they can't get in the Order."
Harry touched the veil with his fingers. What he would give for it to be as easy as throwing the veil out of your way and pulling Sirius back through with you. But it was hopeless dream. Sirius was dead. that was it. dead. Harry shuttered. he never felt so sure of that till now.
The next morning it seemed as though all the Order was there, except Mr. Weasley and the teachers. Everyone was dressed in black, except Angel. She was wearing dark blue which made her stand out considerable. Mrs. Weasley was still a mess, but the rest of the Weasleys had pulled themselves together for the most part. Charlie followed Angel around like a puppy asking her hushed questions she wouldn't answer.
Finally, they left. Most of the Order apparated. And it was only Bill, Charlie and Angel who drive with the students to the Longbottom funeral.
The Service was to be held outside. It was as though the sky knew what was taking place, a gray clouds hung in the sky over head. There were rolls and rolls of seats, all filled up with nosy witches, crying wizards and the loud children they brought along.
When the car pulled up, Seamus and Dean hung back because a massive "ah" came from the crowd and there was a crowd. Bill, Charlie, Ginny, Ron and Harry were backed away from. People stared at them and pointed. Angel was about to kill each of them. She led the way, breaking the crowd roughly for the Weasleys for follow her.
"Harry dear, you came!" Squealed an old lady who had thrown herself around Harry's neck. "Oh, you don't know how much it will mean to Neville." It was Mrs. Longbottom. She was too wearing all black and you'd think he related to Mrs. Weasley at the strain of her face from tears.
"We wouldn't miss it." Hermione said softly.
Mrs. Longbottom straightened up and took herself off of Harry's neck. "Thank you." She stuttered. "Oh, um. please, come." She led the way through the crowd this time, as Bill, Charlie and Angel slipped away to find the other Weasleys. Mrs. Longbottom finally opened a curtain to a tent. Inside was a bench, some chair and Neville.
"Hi Neville." Harry said.
"Thanks for coming." Neville said tonelessly.
"Are you feeling alright?" Ron asked.
"Yeah I." But Neville was cut off.
"Oh Neville, you must feel horrible." Hermione had thrown herself around Neville. At first Neville was taken aback, but he slyly hugged her back resting his head on her shoulder. The other four boys looked at each other a smiled, though Ron's wasn't as true as Seamus and Dean's.
At last, Ron took Hermione's arm and jerked her off of Neville. "Come on you, let's go get seats." Ron drug Hermione out of the tent, with Ginny, Dean and Seamus following him.
Harry was about to but stopped. "Are you coming Neville?"
Neville sighed and hunched over. "Why should I?"
Harry was almost horror stuck. He sat down beside Neville. "Don't call me crazy, but it's your parent's funeral."
"My parents have been dead for 15 years to me." Neville said shortly.
"How can you say that?"
"Year after year, visit after visit and you think that might even remember my name. but they didn't."
"Neville, they couldn't help that."
"And for a long time. I blamed them." Neville said, ignoring him, "I used to hate them because they just didn't tell Lestrange what they knew. and I was suffering for it."
"Neville."
"No, Harry. it's true. but then, I met you and some other colorful people and. I lied, letting everyone believe I didn't have any parents, that they were dead." Neville turned his face to Harry. "It was easier living a lie."
They sat there in silence. The funeral songs were being played and you could hear wails of tears from inside the tent.
"Neville, let's go out there." Harry finally said.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
Neville heaved a sigh. "I can't look at them knowing their dead and feeling relieved because of it."
Harry's eyes widened.
"All my life they've been worse then dead, but they were alive. Gran always said, 'At least they're alive.' But I always thought they'd be better dead. and now they are and I feel.."
".like a weight taken off your shoulders." Harry finished.
"Yeah."
Week faded into one another. Harry didn't have as much free time as he thought he would. Between Potions, Transfiguration, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts, he had hours upon hours of homework every night. Angel's classed were going better than he thought they would. Occlumency and Legilimency wasn't as hard as Snape made it be; Divinations was actually pretty cool once Harry got into it but the Animagius class wasn't going as good as he hoped. He would leave the class aching and sore all over. Angel told him it shouldn't hurt as bad as he said it did. maybe he was doing something wrong.
And on top of it all, there was DA every second Monday night followed with the daily Quidditch Practice that flowed into dark. Katie was elected Captain at the end of last year and we doing a fair good job, though she didn't get a very good third chaser. His name was Jason Wood a.k.a Talker because he never shut up. he made Mark look like he never opened his mouth. So with all the spare time Harry didn't have and the new understanding about the prophecy, at least with Ron, Harry was doing okay. Nothing very intent happened. Teachers would leave for nights and weekends and Charlie would popped up every now and again. but the castle was as normal as possible for the wizarding world and it stayed that way till at least the end of October.
"2 roll description of the star potion." Harry sighed. "Hermione would you."
"No, I'm sorry Harry." Hermione said automatically.
"But I have."
"No Harry."
"Ron."
"Here mate." Ron slid Harry his rolls and grinned at Hermione discussed face. "What?" Ron shrugged innocently.
"UGH!" Hermione slammed her books shut and marched away from them.
"She's been off lately." Ron said.
"Yeah," Harry said airily, coping Ron's homework.
"I wonder what she's thinking." Ron said with a sigh.
Harry looked up from his writing and grinned. "Do you now?"
"Yeah, what the hell goes though that girl's mind?" Harry gave another board grin. "Okay then." Harry cleared his throat and searched Hermione's face for her eyes. Finally she tilted her head and the right angel. "Legilimens." Harry hissed.
.Hermione hunched over in the girls bathroom with sinks astray and a troll standing over her, Harry hanging onto his neck and Ron making his mallet float. a tall cat standing on two legs looking at him and Ron with sad eyes. Hermione hanging onto Harry's waist as they took off on Buckbeak.sitting next to Krum and looking over his shoulder at two wet boys, one with jet black hair and the other fiery red. Harry picking at his food, his head supported by his hand. Ron hugging Ginny on the train.
"Whoa." Harry blinks and broke the spell.
"What did you do?" Ron gasped, looking at Hermione's worried face.
"Nothing bad, just Legilimency."
"What'cha see?"
"Us."
"Excuse me?" Ron said, narrowing his eyebrows.
"Us. vision of stuff you and I did."
"Awe, she thinks about us." Ron held his hand to his heart.
"And you think about her." Harry teased, punching him in the shoulder.
"That was you!" Ron gasped, a wide smile on his face.
Harry grinned. Ron tackled him and pinned him to the floor. Second and Third years gathered around scarcely and laughed at them. After a minute, Harry ended up pinning Ron to the floor. "You like her don't you." Harry said smiling.
Ron punched him the stomach and rolled over him, now pinning him to the floor. "No Shit Sherlock. I wouldn't spend time with her if I didn't."
"You know what I mean."
Ron turned red a bit in the ears. "No I don't."
Harry smiled broadly and hit Ron one more time in the chest. He got up and went to finish his Potions homework. They spent the rest of their afternoon catching up on homework. At 3:30 they started packing up and making their way to Defense Against the Dark Art. By far, Angel was the coolest teacher Hogwarts had ever seen, although Remus gave her a run for her money. She would put a tickling curse on you if you did something wrong instead of taking away points and she would always give hearty points for a right answer. Her highest to date was one-hundred-million-trillion, which was pretty funning because she took away ninety-nine-million-trillion to the same person the next minute leaving them with one point. As far as subject wise though, she was hard. She had them categorize curses and hexes, then give description of them. It was more of a Dark Art's boot camp than Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Ron and Harry found a seat in the back and brought out their quills and parchment. The bell rang, but Angel wasn't there. Neville sat with Hermione in front of them. He was laughing at something Hermione whispered to him and was turning around to tell Ron and Harry when the door banged open.
Angel walked in; she was wearing all black which made her skin look very pale. The only real color was her eyes, but somehow they looked even deader. She sauntered to the front of the class. Everyone was sitting on edge waiting for her to break out into song or start dancing, but she sat down in the chair behind the desk. Some people gasped. Angel never sat down in the chair; never. it was curious why she even had one at all.
"Today we are going to be reading from the book." She said inattentively.
"What page?" Hermione piped.
"Ten points from Gryffindor. Hand Granger, God gave you one, use it." Angel barked, not looking up. "Whatever page you like, but read, if you don't read I'll have you outline the book entirely. Understood?"
"Yes Professor." The class said in unison. Everyone open up their books and stuck their nose in it. Harry stared at Angel. She was leaning on her desk her hands threaded though her hair. She looked up and Harry quickly opened his book, but she didn't notice. Her glance went to Neville. A single solitary tear ran down her cheek.
Class reminded Harry greatly of when Umbridge taught it; staring at a page for an hour, words flying in and out of your eyes; could give you a head ache if you weren't careful. Finally, the bell rang and the class was out of the class faster than anyone had ever dared to leave before. Harry decided to wait on Neville who had lost something under the desk.
"Neville dear." Angel said to her hands, just loud enough for them to hear.
"Yes Professor." Neville answer quickly, afraid he was in trouble.
"Would you come here, I need to tell you something. Harry." She paused and looked up as though trying to make a decision. "Just go." She said flatly, motioning her hand to the door. Harry grabbed his book and dashed from the room as quickly as possible.
Harry went to dinner with Ron and they were still working on the finishing touches to the prank that would make the one on Percy look like a baby did it. They were laughing and carrying on, but Harry all of the sudden felt sick. The bottom dropped out of him. His heart felt frozen and it was like he was lost. He whipped his head around, still in the Great Hall, but seeming lost for direction.
"Harry mate, are you okay?" Ron said, laying a hand on his shoulder. Harry jerked around to look at him. He felt cold and he knew his face was drained of color. He took a breath and for some reason he thought of Neville, he looked down the table and up the other side, Neville Longbottom wasn't there.
"Ron." Harry finally said, "Where's Neville?"
Ron looked down the table and up the table just as Harry. He shrugged, put another fork full of mash potatoes in his mouth. "Don't know man."
Harry still felt chilled and lost, but he managed to laugh a bit and follow Ron back to the common room. He was sitting on the couch doing Charms when he found Neville.
The portrait whole opened and a white face, bug eyed Neville stumbled into view. "NEVILLE!" Harry cried, throwing his book to the floor and jumping up. "What's wrong?"
Neville turned his head a bit to look at him and gave a small smile. He pressed his lips together while a tear rained down his cheek. "And I feel relived." was all he said and possible all he could say. He forced a nervous laugh and continued on his way up stairs. He came back down five minutes later with a bag slung over his back and a shoe box. He nodded at Harry and Ron and left.
"Think we should follow him?" Ron asked when the portrait closed.
"I'll get the cloak." Harry dashed upstairs, got his father's cape and came back down.
Harry and Ron left the common room and threw the invisibility cloak over their heads. "Which way." Ron hissed.
"Great Hall." Harry said plainly. And they walked to the front door without a word.
When the got there all they could see was Angel with her arm around Neville helping him into a cart. "He's leaving?" Ron whispered.
Dumbledore stood on the road, waving till the cart could barely be seen. He turned and walked back to the front door. He stopped in front of them. "Harry, Ron." he sighed as though looking for word. "read about it tomorrow." And the old man swept by them.
"How did he see us?" Ron asked. But that wasn't the question rolling though Harry's mind. What was wrong with Neville and Angel. where were they going and what the hell would they read about tomorrow?
The next morning, Harry woke up like any other. He had a very strange dream, but that's all he could remember. it was strange. He rolled over and pulled on some cloths. It was Halloween. The Neville Longbottom question that had been flying though his head last night had somehow been lost. He woke up Ron and in minutes they were on their way down stairs.
When they entered the Great Hall it was quiet, which is very, very, extremely unusual for Hogwarts. There was a line at the High Table and kid, holding their arms where walking to it. Harry shrugged and follow suit. Everyone one looked dead, all white and eyes sunk in. Harry grabbed whatever he had been waiting for. It was a Daily Prophet.
"Longbottoms' Death", was the Head Line. Harry dropped the paper, only to snatch it off the ground again. He stumbled and ended up sitting down at the Ravenclaw table, transfixed on the print.
"Saint Mungo's Hospital for the Magical Maladies and Injuries was broken into yesterday after noon, writes Reporter Gus Looney. Three people were killed; an afternoon shift nurse, Millie Cortess and two of the patients, Frank Longbottom and his wife Alice Longbottom.
"The Longbottoms had a very special case for being in the Hospital and were and are still worships are heroes. Two week after young Harry Potter drained You-Know-Who of his powers; four of his followers broke into the Longbottom's home and kidnapped the husband and wife.
"For as far as we know, for days the pair was tortured to the blink of death for information of the where about of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and anything about what caused him to fall. The Longbottoms either didn't know or won't tell, but when fellow Auror and friend, Alastor Moody, found them, they were critically insane. And have been in the Saint Mungo's Hospital for fifteen years, leaving their then 1, now 16, year old son, Neville, in the guardianship of Frank's mother, Nana Longbottom."
Harry reread the article. he couldn't believe his eyes. This couldn't be true. Someone sat down next to him. "Sad isn't it." Luna whispered.
Harry nodded mouth to dry to speak.
"Read this one." Her long finger pointed at an article bellow the one on the Longbottoms.
"Insane Witness." The title read.
"Three beds over from the famous Auror couple, Frank and Alice Longbottom, was Gilderoy Lockhart. Writes reported Sarah Kidd. Four years ago, Lockhart was hit with his own memory charm and has been recovering in the same ward as the Longbottoms. He was in bed yesterday afternoon when they were killed.
"'I heard voices outside; Frankie and Alice were playing with these two other people. They were waving wands around and saying silly words.' Lockhart told the Minister and the Prophet. 'Naturally I wanted to play, but Millie told me I had to stay in bed no matter what.'
"When Investigators pressed Lockhart about the matter, they only got bits and pieces of hard evidence. One of the people was none other then Bellatrix Lestrange, one of the four, and the only one alive, who attacked the Longbottom the first time. The other one came as a serious surprise to the Minister.
"'Well, the girl kept calling the other one Weasley. what a funny name." Lockhart finally said. The whole Weasley family is under questioning.
"And the last fact we got out of Lockhart and probably the most heart breaking is this. 'Well, I was peering through my curtains and I saw the girl send sparks at Alice. Then she started screaming, "Neville! Neville! Help me!" I don't know why though. Neville is a funny little boy, comes around with his grandmother to visits Alice and Frankie. but neither of them knew who they were.'"
Harry dropped the news paper and didn't scramble to pick it up. Luna forced a weak smile at him, got up and left. "Harry. what's going on?" Ron sat down beside him next. "Everyone is staring at me. do I have something on my forehead?" He teased
Harry's eyes got big as he rounded on Ron. "Where's Ginny?"
Yet, without waiting for a reply, Harry jumped up and searched for a red head at Gryffindor Table. She was sitting there, picking at her eggs, no doubt noticing all the funny looks coming her way.
"Ginny, Ron, read this." Harry forced the paper at them and they read, their eyes getting bigger the farther they got down.
"Poor Neville." Ginny sighed.
"Read this too." Harry pointed at the Lockhart article. Ron shot him a confused look, but did as he was told.
Ginny dropped the paper when she finished. "Percy." Ron hissed with rage. "I'll kill that little shit if it the last thing I do."
The three of them ate in silence. Hermione was about as edgy around them as everyone else. They were the three other kids mentioned in the article besides Neville. since Neville wasn't here to be edgy around; they took it up it upon themselves to stretch it to Harry, Ron and Ginny. Ginny, got the worst of it, at least Harry and Ron had each other. Ginny had Luna and not to be rude, but she's not a tender around such subjects. Classes went on as normal that Friday.
Charms and Potions was as boring as ever and for some reason Snape had a spring in his step and his face was paler than ever. By lunch everyone knew almost everything. They naturally guessed it was Percy. Charlie, Bill, Fred and George were too cool to do anything that low and Mr. And Mrs. Weasley were too sweet. Ginny and Ron were at Hogwarts. so that left nasty, bossy Percy.
Harry said good bye to Ron and made his way to the dungeons for animagius lessons, which by now, he seriously wanted to quit. Every time he tried to change part of his body into a stag, it hurt, like someone stretching his skin. Angel told him he was just over exaggerating, but now, every time he even thought about a stag, his gut twisted.
When he walked into the classroom, Angel was sitting on the desk. She had gotten back earlier that morning, but hadn't shown up for any meals. Her hair was twisted up in a tight bun at the nape of her neck, she was wearing black pants, a black tank top and her Black family robes with the crest on the chest. She had a suitcase sitting beside her. "Oh, there you are Harry." She said, forcing a smile. She pushed a stray hair out of her face before she spoke. "Neville has asked you, Ron, Ginny." Angel took a piece of parchment from her pocket. "Dean, Seamus, and Hermione..." She folded the note and returned it to her pocket, "to come to his parents funeral."
"When is it?" Harry said tonelessly.
"Sunday. But, we're leaving tonight, the whole Weasley family has a hearing tomorrow at the Minister and Ron and Ginny are suppose to be there." Angel said matter of factly.
"How's Neville?"
"Shocked. hadn't said a word since I told him though." Angel said to her hands.
He said something to Harry though. he whispered words through his tears and Harry had no idea what they meant, he just thought it was an off the wall remark.
After Dinner, Ron, Seamus, Dean, Hermione, Ginny and Harry all made their way down the Hogwarts Express. Angel was with them. They sat in a compartment very close to the front; away form the moppy looking witches and odd tone wizards that got on from Hog Mead. On the way there, Angel explained the Order to Dean and Seamus and how it worked and that they would be staying there. The two, against everything that was happening, thought it was the coolest thing ever.
Early that morning, just as light was dawning, the train stopped on Platform nine and three quarters. They dashed by the Order, ("Wow!" breathed Seamus and Dean when they saw the house) to drop off their bags off.
The whole Weasley family, minus Percy, was sitting in the kitchen. Mr. Weasley was sitting next to Mrs. Weasley talking to her under his breath. She was crying and kept saying "no", Fred and George, for the first time since Harry met them, were quiet and frowning. Bill had his head buried in his hands. Ginny ran over to him and hugged his shoulders, tears running down her cheeks. Charlie jumped up when Angel entered the room. Angel smiled sadly at him. Ron, whispering to Harry that he couldn't take this, left with Dean and Seamus to show them around. Harry and Hermione sat down next to the twins, trying to make them smile.
"Percy was at school last month; Ron turned him into a Weasel." Harry said softly.
"Should have kept him that way," Fred sneered nastily.
"Fred, no" Bill said through his hands.
"Oh, Bill, it'll be okay." Ginny soothed here eldest brother.
Bill looked up and his eyes fell on his father. Author Weasley nodded sadly. "Weasley's let's go." They all nodded and stood and left the room without a word.
Ron, Seamus and Dean met them the stairs, all red with laughter. But the faint smiles whipped from their face. Harry and Hermione trailed behind to wait on them. They followed the red head crowd out of the house and to the car they took to King Cross.
At the Ministry, Angel led the way. She had somehow changed from when they arrived and was now wearing a briskly pressed shirt and slacks with her best robes. Her hair was loose and curled. She led the parade inside, her head held high. that Sirius elegance. The court room was over flowed just as it was the day Angel brought Harry, Ron and Hermione there for Pettigrew's trail. They were seated at the front row, since ten people could not sit at the table in front.
"Yes. yes. yes." Fudge sighed when they were all seated. "Dodgy business this is, dodge indeed." He shook his head.
They wasted about twenty minutes going through everyone's names, all the Weasley's (Percy had joined them) Angel and all the people sitting behind Fudge.
"Yes, well. let's begin with Ronald Paden and Virginia Whitten." Fudge said.
"Hogwarts." Angel said shortly.
"Witnesses."
"Four." Angel pointed at Harry, Hermione, Seamus and Dean.
"Very well. As in the case of Ronald Paden Weasley and Virginia Whitten Weasley, innocent." As Fudge spoke a pokey little witch scribbled hurriedly. "Now then, we have seven more of you to go, so before we waste time, are any of you going to confess?"
Angel looked at them. "Sir, might I add that Gilderoy Lockhart is legally insane."
"Yes, but it is hard evidence. If all the Weasley's are cleared than it will be okay, but the state of the witness is not a factor at the time, Angel." Fudge said firmly.
Angel looked at Mr. Weasley. He nodded slightly. Percy's eyes grew big and buried his head in his hands. Charlie grabbed Angel's hand, she was shaking.
"I did it."
Harry and Ron both jerk their head toward who said it. Mr. Weasley was standing up, his head hung low. Mrs. Weasley had gone into a fit of tears, Bill rocking her softly in his arms. Angel had buried her face in Charlie's shoulder. Harry looked and Ron. His face was white. He turned back. Two officers were leading Mr. Weasley away with the same uncertainty they did with Mr. Diggory. Percy was looking at his farther admirably, his face twisted in horror and mouth open in shook.
The court room emptied out and they were the only ones left in the court room. "Angel," She turned her face out of Charlie's shoulder to look up. Fudge was standing beside her. "I know Mr. Weasley didn't do it. He was in his office when I got the call. I don't know which of you he was protecting." There was a pause. "But you better be right thankful. He'll be lucky if the court doesn't decide to kill him."
Mrs. Weasley went into an uncontrollable rage of tears, Percy stood up and pushed his way though them and left. Slowly, they stood, Bill helping his mother, and they left the Ministry.
"Charlie. I have something I need to get." Angel said when they made it to the street.
"What is it?" Charlie asked.
Angel opened her eyes wide and cocked her head a bit. "Oh. OH. that. right away.." Charlie turned and helped everyone into the car and took off, leaving Angel at the Minister.
That night was no doubt the saddest that God awful house had seen. Mrs. Weasley spent the day locked in one of the extra bed rooms crying; Fred, George, Bill and Ginny just sat at the table staring at each other; Charlie and Angel were locked up in Sirius's old room after Angel got there an hour after they did. Tonks, Remus, Diggle, Moody and Dung were fixing dinner for them.
"Why would dad do that for him?" Ron screamed. Him, Harry, Dean, Seamus and Hermione had slipped into the extra room Angel had showed them.
"I don't know." Hermione said innocently.
Harry stared at the ground, "He loves Percy."
"How can he? Percy had, is and will always be a git!" Dean announced.
"Yeah, but he's his son. It's just like what Mrs. Pettigrew did for Wormtail."
"I missed this one." Seamus said.
Harry told him about Peter and Sirius and how Peter's mum saved him when Cedric dad's tried to avenge his death.
"That's thick." Seamus said when he finished. "I still don't get it though. Percy had turned his back on you all and when he cried help, your dad runs out to save him."
"He's just made some bad choices, it doesn't make him a bad person. " Hermione said.
"Oh, listen to your self Hermione!" Dean said.
"No, it's not like that either. When something like this or what happened to Mrs. Pettigrew. you forget everything except that they're your family."
"But all the things he said to him Harry. About not having proper money, about being a lazy, muggle loving git. no one in their right mind would talk to their father like that." Ron said, throwing his hands in the air.
"We all say things we don't mean." Harry said.
"Grow up Harry." Ron snapped, "I mean this, if I ever see Percy Weasley again I'll skin the little bastard. Turning him into a Weasel is just the start of it."
"Ron, let him fight himself." Hermione said.
"What?" Dean choked.
"Didn't you see the look on his face today in there. he looked ashamed."
"He damn right should be." Ron said.
"Ron, he's fighting himself. he'll end up doing the right thing."
"Well, he should start doing it now! Dad doesn't deserve the punishment!"
Harry leaned back in the chair, and closed his eyes. Happy Halloween. He thought. Everything happens on Halloween and even though the last day of October was the day before. it all seemed like one very long, very bad day.
It was dark. Moon was shining through the wall size window and casting a light onto the floor. Harry rolled over in dream not excepting his face to come inches with another. He didn't know how it happened or exactly what happened, but his eyes shot open. Someone was knelt down beside his bed. "Sirius." He said quietly.
"No, Angel. And get up; I want to show you something." Harry messed with his hair a bit and put his glasses on his head.
Angel was grinning ear to ear. There was slight skip in her step when she walked. She led Harry down to her room and pushed the door open. The room looked different in the dark, especially that looming blue light. Harry, nearly to tried to walk, collapsed onto Sirius's bed.
Angel sat at the foot, shaking nervously. "Isn't it great!" Angel said excitedly.
"Isn't what great?" Harry said sleepily, his eyes closing and shutting
Angel smiled wider, nearly cracking her face. She reached over, grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him into the sit. She put her hand on either side of his head and directed his eyes to something in the corner. Harry blinked. He nudged Angel's hands away from him and rubbed his eyes. he must be seeing things.
There in the corner of the room was an arch with a veil ruffling covering it. Looming blue light came from behind the veil.
"Si.Sirius." Harry stammered. He felt his throat lose tone and his eyes watered. He looked at it more closely then he did while in the Department of Mysteries. The veil was a dark blue, almost black. The arch was old, and cracking. On the top of the arch were the words, "The Next Great Adventure."
"How.. Where..?" Harry stammered.
"Well, I stole it." Angel said brightly. "Shrunk it and carried it out in my bag."
"Couldn't you get in trouble?" Harry said quickly.
"Only if I get caught. But, I won't. Even if they knew it was me, that couldn't lock me up unless they had the arch and they can't get in the Order."
Harry touched the veil with his fingers. What he would give for it to be as easy as throwing the veil out of your way and pulling Sirius back through with you. But it was hopeless dream. Sirius was dead. that was it. dead. Harry shuttered. he never felt so sure of that till now.
The next morning it seemed as though all the Order was there, except Mr. Weasley and the teachers. Everyone was dressed in black, except Angel. She was wearing dark blue which made her stand out considerable. Mrs. Weasley was still a mess, but the rest of the Weasleys had pulled themselves together for the most part. Charlie followed Angel around like a puppy asking her hushed questions she wouldn't answer.
Finally, they left. Most of the Order apparated. And it was only Bill, Charlie and Angel who drive with the students to the Longbottom funeral.
The Service was to be held outside. It was as though the sky knew what was taking place, a gray clouds hung in the sky over head. There were rolls and rolls of seats, all filled up with nosy witches, crying wizards and the loud children they brought along.
When the car pulled up, Seamus and Dean hung back because a massive "ah" came from the crowd and there was a crowd. Bill, Charlie, Ginny, Ron and Harry were backed away from. People stared at them and pointed. Angel was about to kill each of them. She led the way, breaking the crowd roughly for the Weasleys for follow her.
"Harry dear, you came!" Squealed an old lady who had thrown herself around Harry's neck. "Oh, you don't know how much it will mean to Neville." It was Mrs. Longbottom. She was too wearing all black and you'd think he related to Mrs. Weasley at the strain of her face from tears.
"We wouldn't miss it." Hermione said softly.
Mrs. Longbottom straightened up and took herself off of Harry's neck. "Thank you." She stuttered. "Oh, um. please, come." She led the way through the crowd this time, as Bill, Charlie and Angel slipped away to find the other Weasleys. Mrs. Longbottom finally opened a curtain to a tent. Inside was a bench, some chair and Neville.
"Hi Neville." Harry said.
"Thanks for coming." Neville said tonelessly.
"Are you feeling alright?" Ron asked.
"Yeah I." But Neville was cut off.
"Oh Neville, you must feel horrible." Hermione had thrown herself around Neville. At first Neville was taken aback, but he slyly hugged her back resting his head on her shoulder. The other four boys looked at each other a smiled, though Ron's wasn't as true as Seamus and Dean's.
At last, Ron took Hermione's arm and jerked her off of Neville. "Come on you, let's go get seats." Ron drug Hermione out of the tent, with Ginny, Dean and Seamus following him.
Harry was about to but stopped. "Are you coming Neville?"
Neville sighed and hunched over. "Why should I?"
Harry was almost horror stuck. He sat down beside Neville. "Don't call me crazy, but it's your parent's funeral."
"My parents have been dead for 15 years to me." Neville said shortly.
"How can you say that?"
"Year after year, visit after visit and you think that might even remember my name. but they didn't."
"Neville, they couldn't help that."
"And for a long time. I blamed them." Neville said, ignoring him, "I used to hate them because they just didn't tell Lestrange what they knew. and I was suffering for it."
"Neville."
"No, Harry. it's true. but then, I met you and some other colorful people and. I lied, letting everyone believe I didn't have any parents, that they were dead." Neville turned his face to Harry. "It was easier living a lie."
They sat there in silence. The funeral songs were being played and you could hear wails of tears from inside the tent.
"Neville, let's go out there." Harry finally said.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
Neville heaved a sigh. "I can't look at them knowing their dead and feeling relieved because of it."
Harry's eyes widened.
"All my life they've been worse then dead, but they were alive. Gran always said, 'At least they're alive.' But I always thought they'd be better dead. and now they are and I feel.."
".like a weight taken off your shoulders." Harry finished.
"Yeah."