Disclaimer: Harry Potter is from the creative genius that is J.K. Rowling.
I am not her. This is merely a fan fiction to tide us over until Book 6.
A/N: This is a little angst. Remember it's the night Neville's parents were tortured, but we learn more about Snape and them at the same time.
In the Pensive . . .
Neville opened his eyes to see a small white two-story house with blue shutters. Blue bells lined the walkway up to the door. Those were his mother's favorite flowers. Coming up the path were five Death Eaters.
"Silenco" one said before all five lowered their hoods. Whatever was said now inside the property limits would not be heard by anyone else.
As their hoods came down Neville could tell who they were. Right away, he recognized Bellatrix and her husband, Rodophus. He had slight memories of that night and had seen some pictures of from the trial that his grandmother had in a box in the attic. The other three he knew as well: Rabastan Lestrange; a young, but sinister Bartly Crouch Jr. and Snape.
Neville could hear his parents yelling inside before Rodophus exploded the front door sending only shards flying off its hinges. He followed the five Death Eaters as they entered his home.
"Get out of here Alice!" he heard his father yell from the kitchen.
"Not without you! I'm not leaving you here Frank!" he heard his mother pleading.
The Death Eaters were making their way to the kitchen. There was the sound of the Floo trying to come on. By the sound of it, the fireplace was blocked.
The door to the kitchen flew open. Being behind everyone Neville stood on his toes hoping to see what was going on. He still couldn't see his parents.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Rabastan Lestrange nearly laughed. "As an auror, I'd think you'd know the first thing in an attack is to block any escape routes."
"EXPELI – " he heard his father shout.
All the Death Eaters said separate spells, different colored lights shooting out of all their wands. He heard a thump, and then another noise like metal.
"Get away from us! I'm warning you!"
Crouch and two of the Lestranges had now moved into the kitchen. From the doorway, Neville could see his mother holding a large butcher knife. She was trying to point it at all the intruders at the same time. She was standing in front of his father, who was must have had a binding charm and silencing charm on him. He was squirming to get up and even now, it looked like he was trying to get his wife behind him for her safety.
"You think that muggle tool will slow us down?" Crouch said looking her once over in a way neither Neville nor his father appreciated.
"GO TO HELL!" she spat at him.
"I'd be careful if I were you, Bartly here likes them fighting," Rabastan snickered.
Neville saw fury light up in his father's eyes. Neville knew nothing would happen, but he truly wanted to go in there and punch Crouch and Rabastan Lestrange – just as he had nearly killed Malfoy for what he said about Ginny.
"That's enough of that," Snape's voice said. "That's not what we're here for."
"Where is our Master?" Rodophus asked harshly looking at Alice.
"GO TO HELL!"
"Crucio!"
Neville watched in silent horror as his mother dropped the kitchen knife and fell to the ground in pain. His father, by now was straining very hard against his invisible bonds trying to make his way over to her. The whole thing lasted perhaps three seconds, but it seemed like a lifetime to Neville.
"Enough!" Snape yelled. "She wouldn't know anyway!"
"That's right," Bellatrix said storming over to Alice and yanking her up. She then pushed her toward Crouch. Neville watched as Crouch smiled with sick delight and placed his arms around her.
Neville's father was now struggling with all his might against the bonds.
"You can't expect him to say anything with a silencing charm do you Bellatrix?" Snape's sarcastic voice teased.
Rabastan lifted the curses, and Neville watched as his father locked eyes with Snape.
"We have nothing you FITHLY Death Eaters want," he spat, "and we won't tell you a damned thing, Now let go of my wife."
"I'm sorry that's not an option," Crouch said smiling has one of his hands captured Alice's and his other traveled up her abdomen.
It looked like Neville's mother wanted to say something, but no words were coming out. Crouch must have placed a silencing charm on her.
"Enough of this," Bellatrix said annoyed, "Crucio!"
Neville watched as his father wriggled in pain on the floor. Silent tears streamed down his mother's face as she fought against Crouch to get toward her husband. Finally after a few moments, Bellatrix lifted the curse. Neville wasn't surprised to find his own cheeks wet with tears.
"We know you know were our Master is," said Bellatrix coldly. "Tell us or I'll let Crouch have a go at that little wife of yours."
Neville heard the Cruciatus Curse used over and over again on his father. Neville closed his eyes. It was too much. Then he heard Crouch scream.
"You bint!"
Neville turned to look. Obviously his mother had both kneed and punched the young Death Eater. Crouch was nursing himself, but still held his wand in his hand.
"Crucio!" screamed Crouch and Rabastan at the same time.
"Alice no!" his father yelled. The other two Lestranges let loose with another round of the Cruciatus Curse on his father.
Through his tears, Neville saw something he never knew about that night that actually made him smile. He watched as his father crawled through the pain over to his mother - trying to put himself in front of her to block both the spells from her. It was futile, but still he was determined. Alice seemed to know this and she placed her hand on his father's cheek and kissed him.
This beautiful gesture showed how much they loved each other. It was a kiss that meant to express their love, and that they would get through this. It was a promise they knew they might not keep, but still needed to be said. It was a kiss, Neville thought to himself, much like the one he planed on giving Ginny earlier that day.
By this time, Neville had lost track of how much time his parents had spent under the curse.
"That's enough fun!" Snape yelled. "Aurors will be here any minute and we've found nothing. Not even the child."
Neville noticed it was odd how the potion master was the only one not to cast a curse yet during this torture session.
"Patience Severus," Rodophus said but then pocketed his wand. "But you're right. If the prophecy meant Potter's brat, maybe Longbottom's brat will pay for what happened instead. That would make mummy and daddy talk. Can you keep this up by yourself honey?" he asked his wife.
Bellatrix turned and looked at her husband as if he asked if she needed help with the dishes. "Of course dear."
Rodophus gave his wife a kiss on the cheek before motioning for Crouch, Rabastan and Snape to come with him. Neville's parents' screams still filled the air.
"I'll check down here Rodophus," Snape said motioning around. "It's quite possible that they've hidden him down here with a silencing charm."
Rodophus nodded as he continued up the stairs. Neville followed Snape as he walked all around his parent's home opening doors, looking under furniture – all the while Neville's parents screamed. It had to have been more than a half-hour. Finally, Snape returned to the kitchen. Bellatrix was sitting at the kitchen table sipping tea. Every once and a while she would shoot another curse at the couple curled up on the floor.
A flash of pity or was it remorse seemed to go through Snape's eyes as he looked over at the Longbottom's. Neville looked down at his parents. They were already bad. Their eyes were glazed over and they were no longer really struggling against the curse.
"Enjoying yourself Bellatrix?" he asked.
"Immensely Severus," she answered. "I'd offer you tea, but I know your kind prefers blood. Perhaps when we find the brat you can feast."
Neville shot a look at the potion master. Was he a vampire? Would Dumbledore hire a vampire? Well, Neville reasoned he had hired a werewolf, but Lupin was much more trustworthy than Snape.
"Perhaps," is all Snape said as he began to look in the cupboards. Then he turned and pointed his wand "Silenco."
Neville could no longer hear his parents screams. Bellatrix looked annoyed.
"It was giving me a headache," Snape explained.
"Spoiled sport."
Neville turned to watch as Snape went through the kitchen cupboards. He opened one and shut it quickly. Neville was sure he saw something move inside, but it looked empty.
"There's nothing here," Snape said standing up briskly.
"The same upstairs," Rudophus's voice echoed off the kitchen walls. Neville turned to see the other three Death Eaters in the doorway. "I think it's time we left."
Looking down at the Longbottoms Rabastan added, "It's not like they can tell anyone anything now."
Bellatrix nodded and took the Cruciatus Curse. The five Death Eaters went out side and cast the Death Eaters mark over the house and apparated.
Neville was startled he was still there. Wasn't he suppose to follow Snape these were his memories afterall. It was just then that Snape reappeared beside him. The potion master hurried into the house with Neville close behind him.
Neville watched as Snape flung open the door to the cupboard he had opened earlier. He pulled something out, though Neville couldn't really see it. It looked like distorted air.
Snape whispered something and then suddenly a toddler appeared in his arms. Neville was shocked. It was him as a one-year-old. The toddler Neville began to cry. Snape reached up and covered the toddler's mouth and nose with his hand.
"Quiet!" he hissed. "Any moment they'll wonder where I am."
Pulling a letter out of his pocket, he laid the baby beside the Longbottoms. Both his parents were still curled up in pain.
"Stupid fools," Snape said sadly. "Dumbledore won't even be able to help you."
Neville looked down at the letter that touched his younger self and both his parents. It was addressed to Dumbledore and told of other attacks that were planned. Scribbled down at the bottom in Snape's nasty handwriting was "I just watched two decent people tortured by the three Lestranges and Crouch. I was unable to do anything without raising suspicion. Take care of the boy."
Then Neville watched as he and his parents began turning. The letter was a portkey. Looking back up, Neville saw two Snapes – the younger one and his professor.
"I think that's enough," said his professor.
Neville nodded and felt himself returning to the classroom.
A/N: This is a little angst. Remember it's the night Neville's parents were tortured, but we learn more about Snape and them at the same time.
In the Pensive . . .
Neville opened his eyes to see a small white two-story house with blue shutters. Blue bells lined the walkway up to the door. Those were his mother's favorite flowers. Coming up the path were five Death Eaters.
"Silenco" one said before all five lowered their hoods. Whatever was said now inside the property limits would not be heard by anyone else.
As their hoods came down Neville could tell who they were. Right away, he recognized Bellatrix and her husband, Rodophus. He had slight memories of that night and had seen some pictures of from the trial that his grandmother had in a box in the attic. The other three he knew as well: Rabastan Lestrange; a young, but sinister Bartly Crouch Jr. and Snape.
Neville could hear his parents yelling inside before Rodophus exploded the front door sending only shards flying off its hinges. He followed the five Death Eaters as they entered his home.
"Get out of here Alice!" he heard his father yell from the kitchen.
"Not without you! I'm not leaving you here Frank!" he heard his mother pleading.
The Death Eaters were making their way to the kitchen. There was the sound of the Floo trying to come on. By the sound of it, the fireplace was blocked.
The door to the kitchen flew open. Being behind everyone Neville stood on his toes hoping to see what was going on. He still couldn't see his parents.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Rabastan Lestrange nearly laughed. "As an auror, I'd think you'd know the first thing in an attack is to block any escape routes."
"EXPELI – " he heard his father shout.
All the Death Eaters said separate spells, different colored lights shooting out of all their wands. He heard a thump, and then another noise like metal.
"Get away from us! I'm warning you!"
Crouch and two of the Lestranges had now moved into the kitchen. From the doorway, Neville could see his mother holding a large butcher knife. She was trying to point it at all the intruders at the same time. She was standing in front of his father, who was must have had a binding charm and silencing charm on him. He was squirming to get up and even now, it looked like he was trying to get his wife behind him for her safety.
"You think that muggle tool will slow us down?" Crouch said looking her once over in a way neither Neville nor his father appreciated.
"GO TO HELL!" she spat at him.
"I'd be careful if I were you, Bartly here likes them fighting," Rabastan snickered.
Neville saw fury light up in his father's eyes. Neville knew nothing would happen, but he truly wanted to go in there and punch Crouch and Rabastan Lestrange – just as he had nearly killed Malfoy for what he said about Ginny.
"That's enough of that," Snape's voice said. "That's not what we're here for."
"Where is our Master?" Rodophus asked harshly looking at Alice.
"GO TO HELL!"
"Crucio!"
Neville watched in silent horror as his mother dropped the kitchen knife and fell to the ground in pain. His father, by now was straining very hard against his invisible bonds trying to make his way over to her. The whole thing lasted perhaps three seconds, but it seemed like a lifetime to Neville.
"Enough!" Snape yelled. "She wouldn't know anyway!"
"That's right," Bellatrix said storming over to Alice and yanking her up. She then pushed her toward Crouch. Neville watched as Crouch smiled with sick delight and placed his arms around her.
Neville's father was now struggling with all his might against the bonds.
"You can't expect him to say anything with a silencing charm do you Bellatrix?" Snape's sarcastic voice teased.
Rabastan lifted the curses, and Neville watched as his father locked eyes with Snape.
"We have nothing you FITHLY Death Eaters want," he spat, "and we won't tell you a damned thing, Now let go of my wife."
"I'm sorry that's not an option," Crouch said smiling has one of his hands captured Alice's and his other traveled up her abdomen.
It looked like Neville's mother wanted to say something, but no words were coming out. Crouch must have placed a silencing charm on her.
"Enough of this," Bellatrix said annoyed, "Crucio!"
Neville watched as his father wriggled in pain on the floor. Silent tears streamed down his mother's face as she fought against Crouch to get toward her husband. Finally after a few moments, Bellatrix lifted the curse. Neville wasn't surprised to find his own cheeks wet with tears.
"We know you know were our Master is," said Bellatrix coldly. "Tell us or I'll let Crouch have a go at that little wife of yours."
Neville heard the Cruciatus Curse used over and over again on his father. Neville closed his eyes. It was too much. Then he heard Crouch scream.
"You bint!"
Neville turned to look. Obviously his mother had both kneed and punched the young Death Eater. Crouch was nursing himself, but still held his wand in his hand.
"Crucio!" screamed Crouch and Rabastan at the same time.
"Alice no!" his father yelled. The other two Lestranges let loose with another round of the Cruciatus Curse on his father.
Through his tears, Neville saw something he never knew about that night that actually made him smile. He watched as his father crawled through the pain over to his mother - trying to put himself in front of her to block both the spells from her. It was futile, but still he was determined. Alice seemed to know this and she placed her hand on his father's cheek and kissed him.
This beautiful gesture showed how much they loved each other. It was a kiss that meant to express their love, and that they would get through this. It was a promise they knew they might not keep, but still needed to be said. It was a kiss, Neville thought to himself, much like the one he planed on giving Ginny earlier that day.
By this time, Neville had lost track of how much time his parents had spent under the curse.
"That's enough fun!" Snape yelled. "Aurors will be here any minute and we've found nothing. Not even the child."
Neville noticed it was odd how the potion master was the only one not to cast a curse yet during this torture session.
"Patience Severus," Rodophus said but then pocketed his wand. "But you're right. If the prophecy meant Potter's brat, maybe Longbottom's brat will pay for what happened instead. That would make mummy and daddy talk. Can you keep this up by yourself honey?" he asked his wife.
Bellatrix turned and looked at her husband as if he asked if she needed help with the dishes. "Of course dear."
Rodophus gave his wife a kiss on the cheek before motioning for Crouch, Rabastan and Snape to come with him. Neville's parents' screams still filled the air.
"I'll check down here Rodophus," Snape said motioning around. "It's quite possible that they've hidden him down here with a silencing charm."
Rodophus nodded as he continued up the stairs. Neville followed Snape as he walked all around his parent's home opening doors, looking under furniture – all the while Neville's parents screamed. It had to have been more than a half-hour. Finally, Snape returned to the kitchen. Bellatrix was sitting at the kitchen table sipping tea. Every once and a while she would shoot another curse at the couple curled up on the floor.
A flash of pity or was it remorse seemed to go through Snape's eyes as he looked over at the Longbottom's. Neville looked down at his parents. They were already bad. Their eyes were glazed over and they were no longer really struggling against the curse.
"Enjoying yourself Bellatrix?" he asked.
"Immensely Severus," she answered. "I'd offer you tea, but I know your kind prefers blood. Perhaps when we find the brat you can feast."
Neville shot a look at the potion master. Was he a vampire? Would Dumbledore hire a vampire? Well, Neville reasoned he had hired a werewolf, but Lupin was much more trustworthy than Snape.
"Perhaps," is all Snape said as he began to look in the cupboards. Then he turned and pointed his wand "Silenco."
Neville could no longer hear his parents screams. Bellatrix looked annoyed.
"It was giving me a headache," Snape explained.
"Spoiled sport."
Neville turned to watch as Snape went through the kitchen cupboards. He opened one and shut it quickly. Neville was sure he saw something move inside, but it looked empty.
"There's nothing here," Snape said standing up briskly.
"The same upstairs," Rudophus's voice echoed off the kitchen walls. Neville turned to see the other three Death Eaters in the doorway. "I think it's time we left."
Looking down at the Longbottoms Rabastan added, "It's not like they can tell anyone anything now."
Bellatrix nodded and took the Cruciatus Curse. The five Death Eaters went out side and cast the Death Eaters mark over the house and apparated.
Neville was startled he was still there. Wasn't he suppose to follow Snape these were his memories afterall. It was just then that Snape reappeared beside him. The potion master hurried into the house with Neville close behind him.
Neville watched as Snape flung open the door to the cupboard he had opened earlier. He pulled something out, though Neville couldn't really see it. It looked like distorted air.
Snape whispered something and then suddenly a toddler appeared in his arms. Neville was shocked. It was him as a one-year-old. The toddler Neville began to cry. Snape reached up and covered the toddler's mouth and nose with his hand.
"Quiet!" he hissed. "Any moment they'll wonder where I am."
Pulling a letter out of his pocket, he laid the baby beside the Longbottoms. Both his parents were still curled up in pain.
"Stupid fools," Snape said sadly. "Dumbledore won't even be able to help you."
Neville looked down at the letter that touched his younger self and both his parents. It was addressed to Dumbledore and told of other attacks that were planned. Scribbled down at the bottom in Snape's nasty handwriting was "I just watched two decent people tortured by the three Lestranges and Crouch. I was unable to do anything without raising suspicion. Take care of the boy."
Then Neville watched as he and his parents began turning. The letter was a portkey. Looking back up, Neville saw two Snapes – the younger one and his professor.
"I think that's enough," said his professor.
Neville nodded and felt himself returning to the classroom.
