Dear Readers,

Sorry if this chapter and the last few seem weak. I have not been very motivated recently. Please R&R! It is one of the only things that does keep me wanting to finish this story. (You see, I often start a story and get bored of the idea of it, so I start another and never finish the first.) I cannot stress the value of your reviews. Thank you so much for them, and now, without further adieu, I give you chapter 3.

LunarLitLover

Recap: Luna and Harry on top of astronomy tower saying goodbye because Harry is going to duel Voldemort. Harry says, "I'll be back. I promise." (Which is very contradictory to what he told Ron and Hermione.)

Chapter 3: Ally

Harry left Luna by herself upon the astronomy tower as soon as they were finished with their goodbyes. These were difficult and, therefore, prolonged, so when Harry opened the trap door he was very much in a hurry. Dumbledore was probably waiting for him impatiently at the moment. And as much as he dreaded finally going to Dumbledore, he knew time was of the essence, and the meeting with Voldemort was, after all, inevitable.

But when Harry's resolve carried him quickly into the tower's stairwell, another burden was placed on Time. In the darkness, Harry had bumped into something squashy and moving. It made no sound but Harry took no chances and muttered "Lumos!" as he reached for his wand. The spell was activated before the instrument reached his fingertips, however, and instead a ball of light burst from his hand.

The imposter stumbled back in amazement accompanied by a gasp at this wandless magic. But the imposter put a gasp in Harry's mouth as well. It was a student. It was-

"Neville?"

"Harry, I'm so sorry if I startled you, but I had to follow-" Harry cut him off.

"Why!" Harry asked angrily. "Why did you have to come here at one-o'clock in the morning! To keep me away from Luna, is that it! Because you don't have to worry about that! I might not even live to see her again!"

You see, Neville had, in fact, loved Luna for a long time. When Harry took her as his own, Neville had developed a bit of envy towards Harry. Just a bit, though. Nothing Neville ever did suggested even to the slightest degree that he had wanted to take Luna away from Harry. Neville loved her dearly and wanted her to be happy, even if that was by being with Harry. Luna's happiness was more important than his own.

However, in response to Harry's accusation, Neville said, "That's why I came."

"To pull me away from Luna!" Harry's anger flared even more.

"No, Harry! You know I would never do that! I…uh…well…came because of tonight and…Voldemort." The last word Neville said was in but a whisper.

"But…how do you know?" asked Harry. All of his anger had evaporated in an instant.

Neville gulped. "I'm sorry, Harry…I didn't mean to….but, well…I heard your conversation with Ron and Hermione in the common room…I was in the armchair, you see, doing homework and dozing off, and well…"

A thought struck Harry. "You heard me tell them about how both of us were in the prophecy, didn't you? About how either of us could have been chosen to vanquish Voldemort?"

"Yes," Neville responded with his eyes down-cast, but his voice was more matter-o-factly than ever.

"But did you hear the next part about how Voldemort chose me? I'm not boasting or anything; I just got stuck with it. But Neville, you don't have to worry about Voldemort because I'm the one who has to deal with him." There was no emotion in his voice. It was as if he was a limp balloon that had already exploded from too much pressure and now couldn't hold anymore.

"But, Harry, I do have to worry about Voldemort," said Neville with a fire in his eyes. "You're not the only one who does worry, you know. I care about what happens to the world! You forget what happened to my parents because of him!" Neville closed his mouth abruptly. He had never mentioned his parent's accident so carelessly before. After a moment of silence and more shock for Harry, Neville finished calmly, "We're in similar spots, Harry. I feel a responsibility to this cause, too. And now especially because of the prophecy…" Neville glanced up from his rather interesting toes to finally look Harry in the eye. "I want to help. I can't let you face this alone."

Harry, even though he knew that Neville was the last person he could use help from, he was touched by Neville's loyalty. However, Harry replied, "Neville, you can't come. It's between me and him. Plus why would you want to put yourself in danger?"

"Harry, I don't care about the danger! I can help you, so it's final; I'm going. And you can't change my mind."

Neville began to turn to go down the steps, but Harry caught him in an embrace. Harry knew that Dumbledore would forbid Neville from going, so he wasn't going to argue with Neville. But Harry might as well show gratitude for Neville's thoughtful, yet unrealistic, idea.

They arrived in Dumbledore's office at quarter-till-two. Dumbledore, as well as Lupin, Moody, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Professor McGonagall and Snape, were conversing feverishly when Harry and Neville entered the room. However, as they did so, it grew quiet. Everyone's eyes were on Harry then Neville. Dumbledore's brimming, bright blue eyes were fixed on Neville and he was wearing a proud smile, as if he knew some amazing secret.

Harry cleared his throat, "Erm…well, it's nice to see you all." He couldn't think of anything else to say when they didn't respond and, therefore, fell silent.

McGonagall was the first to speak. "Neville, what are you doing here?"

"Don't worry yourself, Minerva. I think Mr. Longbottom has come here tonight to enlist his help. Isn't that right, Neville?"

Neville nodded, and the whole room stared at Dumbledore, mouths agape.

"But surely…" McGonagall started. She faltered for words but tried again, "Albus, Voldemort…Neville…his parents…" She shook her head.

"I want to come!" Neville blurted, gaining the full attention of everyone in the room. "My parents cared enough about this cause to give their life to it! I feel the same."

Dumbledore grinned, "Neville, I respect your decision. However, please make sure this is what you want to do."

"It is, Sir," Neville replied with an air of finality.

Harry let his mouth hang open. "Neville can't come," he thought. "What if something happens to him? No, I have to stop this." Harry voiced this opinion. "Neville, you can't come. You don't want to risk it. Plus, it will be between him and me. It has to be, according to the prophecy. You'll just be in danger. Neville, don't come." Harry was almost pleading now.

"No, Harry; I'm coming."

Harry opened his mouth to protest a second time, but Dumbledore put up a hand. "Harry, each of us has the right to decide our fate. Neville will decide for himself, as you have."

Harry remained sulkily silent. I mean, how could you argue with that?

Silence from the rest of the room accompanied Harry's. But Dumbledore finally said, "Harry, we have been trying to plan an attack, but without detailed information about the area, it has proven difficult. Please forgive my persistence, but I must ask you if you could find out more from Voldemort."

"No, Professor. I can't. I've done too much tonight to try again. He'll sense me and then will be on guard."

"I figured as much," Dumbledore sighed. "Well everyone, we don't have any more excuses for procrastination. We must leave now. Are you ready, Harry?" Dumbledore asked this and looked Harry right in the eye. Dumbledore's bright blue eyes were analyzing, calculating, looking for an answer. It was if he was searching Harry for a seed of doubt, a hint of unpreparedness; he was wondering if Harry was holding back. To his surprise, he found none of this; no emotion of fear or of any kind was in Harry. "Well, the old man's been trumped again," he thought.

Harry nodded to Dumbledore's question. Dumbledore nodded back. "Alright, we will be taking a portkey to the vicinity of Godric's Hollow. Then we will proceed from there. Any questions? Okay, good luck, Everyone." Dumbledore seemed reserved in his speech, as if none of this was happening.

However, the room occupants crowded close to Dumbledore, reached out for the willow branch portkey, and braced themselves as they lurched forward onto Germane's Hollow.