Chapter Eighteen – The First Wave
Harry and Neville just looked at each other in shock. Harry started pacing, almost muttering to himself. Finally he looked at Neville.
"How'd you see my vision?" he asked quietly.
"I don't know," Neville said truthfully. "You were in my mind when it hit. Maybe that's what happened."
Harry shook his head. "That's not possible," he said to himself. "Voldemort wasn't in that vision. (Neville gave a shudder at hearing the name) Every vision I've had has concerned him. Why not this one?"
Neville looked at Harry miserably. "I don't know," he repeated.
"What if-" Harry cut himself off, looking horrified. "No, that's not possible."
"Harry, are you going to talk to me or not?" Neville asked, sounding much sharper than he meant too.
Harry flopped down on the couch in front of the fire. He put his head in his hands and stayed silent for a moment. Neville sat on the other end of the couch, wanting to be there for him.
"Neville, if I tell you something, can you promise me not to tell anyone?" Harry asked quietly.
"Of course," Neville replied promptly.
"Not even Luna?" Harry prompted.
Neville shook his head. "Not even Luna," he said with a faint smile.
"I haven't even told Ron and Hermione this, Neville. You can't tell anyone," Harry warned.
"Don't worry, Harry. You can trust me. Besides, I'll probably forget what you tell me by tomorrow morning," he said jokingly.
Neville was heartened to see Harry smile weakly and his lame attempt at a joke.
"Remember the prophecy that was smashed in the Department of Mysteries?" Harry asked.
"That's one thing I don't think I'll ever forget," Neville said seriously.
"When Professor Dumbledore brought me to his office when the fight was over, he told me that the prophecy had been told to him sixteen years ago," Harry continued.
"He heard it?" Neville asked eagerly. His curiosity about the prophecy had only grown over the past year.
Harry nodded. "It said that the one with the power to defeat the Dark Lord would be born at the end of July, to parents who had defeated him three times," Harry said, not looking at Neville. "He would have powers the Dark Lord had not, and be marked as his equal." Harry seemed to hold something back, but Neville didn't want to push the confidence.
"The prophecy meant you, though, right? I mean, your name was on it," Neville said. He suddenly realized how tired he was.
"That's the thing though, Neville. It could have meant two people," Harry said.
"Really? That's odd," Neville mused. "My birthday's near the end of July. I wonder if my parents escaped him three times?"
Harry looked right at Neville. "They did," he said slowly.
Neville's jaw dropped. "It could have been me?" Neville asked, shocked.
"It was either you or me. Voldemort choose me. He marked me as his equal when he gave me this," Harry said, pointing at the scar on his forehead.
Neville stood up from the couch quickly. "So you-know-who made the choice?" he asked weakly.
"I still don't know why he chose me," Harry told him.
Neville was lost in thoughts for a moment. "Do you what I would give to have had my parents killed instead of tortured like they were?" Neville said quietly, not looking at Harry.
"What?" Harry asked. "You can't be serious. I mean, at least you can still talk to them…"
"It's not talking!" Neville shouted. "I babble away, wondering the entire time if they have any idea what I'm talking about. Sixteen years of watching them drool, scream and stare out the window ignoring me. Why couldn't he have chosen me? Then at least they would have gotten the dignified death they deserve!"
"You can't mean that, Neville," Harry asked, horrified.
"Yes I can!" Neville shouted. "If he had chosen me, your parents still might be alive. You wouldn't have had to live with the muggles and be miserable."
"Stop it," Harry said fiercely. "It's over and done with. I have the scar. There is no point about thinking what if."
Neville was ashamed of his outburst. He couldn't believe that life actually seemed more attractive if he could have been the one chosen.
"I'm sorry, Harry. It's just…" Neville couldn't seem to find the words to apologize.
"Don't worry about it," Harry said. "When I first found out, I can't tell you how many times I wished it had been you."
Neville stuck out his hand, which Harry shook firmly. "There's nothing we can do now," Harry said. "We might as well get some sleep until we find out what happened."
Neville nodded and followed Harry out of Professor Dumbledore's office.
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The next morning, Neville expected the Great Hall to be buzzing about the attacks. But then he remembered that most likely the Daily Prophet hadn't been able to put out a paper this morning.
His eyes searched for Luna. He found her at the Ravenclaw table, reading the Quibbler. He sat next to her quietly, and put his arm around her.
"Neville!" Luna said, her eyes widening. "I didn't notice you sit down." She turned her head and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Can we go sit with Harry-" Neville started, but was interrupted.
"Miss Lovegood?" Professor Flitwick squeaked.
She smiled at her Head of House. "Yes?" she said serenely.
"I have need to speak with you," he said earnestly. "It's very important."
Luna glanced over at Neville. "May Neville join us?" she asked.
The little professor looked from Luna to Neville. "Of course."
Luna and Neville stood up and followed Professor Flitwick into a room right off of the Great Hall. Neville started to get worried when Professor Dumbledore was also in the room.
Professor Dumbledore motioned for them to sit. "Luna, there were ten orchestrated Death Eater attacks late last night."
Luna closed her eyes. "Is Daddy okay?" she asked fearfully.
"Two of the attacks were the Daily Prophet and Quibbler's main offices. Your father was there, and he was tortured along with other members of his staff," Professor Dumbledore said quietly.
Luna reached over and grabbed Neville's hand. "Is he alive?" she asked, sounding much calmer.
"He is," Professor Flitwick piped in. "He had a punctured lung, but other than that is in decent shape. He will be in St. Mungos for at least four or five days."
"Two members of his staff was killed," Professor Dumbledore added. "Georgia Whitaker and D.J. Perkins."
"Georgia?" Luna said quietly, her eyes filling with tears. "She was Daddy's assistant. They just started going out. I always thought she and Daddy would get married someday."
"I'm very sorry, Luna," Professor Dumbledore said quietly.
"May I go to St. Mungos to see Daddy?" Luna asked determinedly.
Professor Flitwick shook his head. "We can't take any chances with students leaving the castle. Hogwarts is the safest place you can be."
Luna's usually composed face was shaking. Neville just wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her.
Professor Dumbledore stood up. "I will be making an announcement to the school in a few moments. Please go have some breakfast and listen," he said kindly.
Luna and Neville stood up slowly and left the room. The moment the door closed behind them, Luna crumpled into Neville's arms and started sobbing. "I've known Georgia my whole life," she cried.
Neville just stroked her hair, and held her closer. "What if they give Daddy atropine?" she asked frantically. "He can't have that medicine! He'll die! I need to write an owl."
Luna started walking away from the Great Hall, but Neville stopped her. "Luna, we will go straight to the owlery after Professor Dumbledore talks," he said firmly.
Her bottom lip quivered. "Promise?" she asked quietly.
He kissed her forehead. "Promise."
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Harry gave Neville a quick nod when they sat down at the Gryffindor table. Professor Dumbledore had just entered the Great Hall. Neville looked quickly around the room. There were other students with red and puffy eyes. Obviously Luna had not been the only one to suffer a loss.
"Terrible things happened last night," Professor Dumbledore started. "Last night, there were ten Death Eater attacks over Britain. Twenty-three people were killed last night."
A collective gasp came out of the student's mouths. "We have talked to students who were related to the victims before breakfast. I will release a list of names, so that you may see them for yourselves.
"This is a horrible crime against our world. Innocent people were killed and many more injured last night. All because of Voldemort and his grasping for power." Professor Dumbledore didn't seem to notice the whimpers of fear at you-know-who's name.
Luna put her hand on Neville's knee. Neville took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Hermione seemed to notice Luna's face.
"Your father wasn't attacked, was he?" she asked quietly.
Luna nodded. "He's alive," she said gratefully. "He'll be in St. Mungos for a while. The Daily Prophet and the Quibbler's offices were attacked."
Hermione nodded. "Of course," she said, brow furrowing. It was a look Neville learned over the years that Hermione was thinking hard. "They'll want to spread the panic even more with the stories they'll write from this."
"Hope everyone from the Order is allright," Harry said quietly.
Neville heard whispering behind him and turned around. A few members from Slytherin were all whispering and looking triumphant. He could feel an anger rising in his chest. Twenty-three people killed and they looked happy?
Professor Dumbledore sat down quietly. Neville started to grab a bagel, but Luna jumped up and grabbed his hand. "Time to go to the Owlery."
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Luna wouldn't let Neville out of her sight for the rest of the weekend. Finally, Sunday afternoon, she decided she needed a nap before she started studying. Neville walked her to her Common room and then headed up towards Professor Dumbledore's office.
Harry was waiting outside of the office as well. He seemed to kick the ground with his foot. "Guess we better go inside and talk to him," Harry said finally.
Neville nodded. "How's Luna?" Harry asked quietly.
"Okay, I guess. Her father is her only family. She doesn't have aunts or uncles, grandparents, or anything. She's afraid of being left alone," Neville told him.
Harry looked at him. "But she won't be alone, right?" Harry asked. "I mean, even if something horrible happened to her father, she has you."
Neville thought about that for a moment. "You're right," he said slowly. "I won't ever let her be alone."
He wasn't sure why it was that moment when it hit him. But suddenly he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was in love with her. Somehow, over the course of just a few months, Luna had become his world.
