Author's Note: Dumbledore, Dumbledore, Dumbledore ... everyone thought it was Dumbledore. I had a Snape and a Sirius, too, but they were from the same person. The one person who guessed Neville cheated (shame on you, Stroppy-Teenager), but alas, it was my loophole. MoonCroww hates me, but that's expected as I hate her as well squinty-eyed hatred. And Lolua is in shock -- to the point that she neglected to review me AGAIN ... laughs That's alright though, Amogi Aloho, our conversations are all the review I need ... Though no one else knows how great you think I am ... d'oh
PS: The italics between the horizontal lines are flashbacks, in case they confuse you.

2. Almost Answers

"Do it, Harry."

"What about me? I should be asking the same of you."

"You know I couldn't. Please."

"It wasn't your fault."

"It should have been me."

"It was meant for all of us."

"Damn it, Harry, if you don't do it, I will." He pulled his wand.

Grabbing his hand, Harry stopped him and drew his own, "Okay." He opened his mouth to mutter the incantation, but he was interrupted.

There was a desperation in his hazel eyes that Harry had never seen before, when he requested, "I just don't want to remember being there. Tell me about it later."

Desperation had long since left as he smiled at the sight of unkempt, black hair brilliant green ones in the doorway.

"Come in, come in, please."

Harry made as though he was dusting the seat of the plain wooden chair, running his hand over it before he sat down.

"Has anyone else been by to see you?"

"Why would they do that? You shouldn't even be here. You're much too protective, you know. You worry so much."

"I've had a lot to worry about in my time."

"Bah. You're making yourself old before 'your time'. Stop it. How'd you find out anyway? She tell you? Leave it to my wife to fret over nothing."

"Is it nothing?"

"Yes, of course it is, don't be silly. It was all a misunderstanding." He waved this off as if it didn't matter and turned an interested expression on the seated man. "How's Ginny and the kids? And where is that healer? He should have at least popped in by now." His gaze had suddenly went to the door, brow furrowed.

"How long have you been here?" Harry asked. To the man sitting with his legs dangling off the edge of the bed, dressed to go out, in crisp trousers, a patterned sweater-vest over a light-blue button-down, the answer was a mere calculation. For the inquisitor, the response held a weight he couldn't describe.

"Twenty minutes, I'd say without a clock."

"Yes, he should have been here by now," Harry sighed. There was a list of questions he was supposed to ask, see if anything had changed. He used to ask them, too, but it felt too much like an interrogation. Anyhow, he found that the answer to the first question, answered all the others. "Would you like to go for a walk?" he queried, standing.

"The healer should be here any minute."

Eyes shifting to the window, Harry tried, "Look at that, would you?" He moved to stare down upon a rain-soaked London. He heard his friend slide off the bed and come to his side.

"It has gotten dark in twenty minutes."

Harry looked at him closely.

"It's raining, Neville," he stated.

"Yes ... rain." Harry watched him for a minute or two more as a flicker of recognition lit his eyes – eyes that were still bright and curious, masking the cloud and fog behind them. "It wasn't ... raining when I came in. It was bright and clear this morning." With a chuckle, the recognition was gone and he added, "Strange English weather."

Harry didn't venture to inform him that, not only had it been raining for twenty minutes, but all day. All of the day before, too. And the day before that one, as well. Nor did he pass on any hint that morning had passed hours ago. It was nearly a quarter past six in the evening, as it always was when they looked out the window. No, he never mentioned these things, and this day was not the day to begin.

"How about a walk?" Neville offered, looking up at his friend.

"Yes, that sounds nice."