Chapter Twenty-Six – The Night Before

"You are not telling the entire truth, Longbottom," Professor Snape said dangerously.

Neville went back to his basic Occlumency training. He showed no emotion, and when a memory of everyone in the Room of Requirements flashed before his eyes, he didn't let himself react.

"What are you hiding?" Professor Snape barked.

"Nothing, sir," Neville said innocently. He cast a long look at Harry, who was also in the room.

"If you two are planning anything like that little stunt before Valentine's Day, I would like to know," Snape said. He leaned back in his chair behind his desk and stared at the two young men.

"We're not planning anything," Harry said angrily. Neville inwardly groaned. He knew if Harry showed enough emotion, Snape would know something was up.

"What was that, Potter?" Snape asked.

"We're not planning anything, sir," Harry said, getting his temper under control.

"Very well," Snape said. "Get out of my office then. We'll continue practice next week."

Neville and Harry jumped out of their chairs and headed towards the door. But then Neville's forehead felt like it was about to split in two. Harry seemed to have the same reaction.

Different pictures flashed in front of his eyes. Neville saw himself standing in front of his parents' coffins. That vision was replaced by Harry and Ginny arguing in an old hallway. Harry was holding a duffle bag and then Ginny gave him a passionate kiss and stalked away…Professor Snape was wearing a black dress robe, pacing in front of the dungeons…A huge crowd was gathered at the Ministry of Magic, with Madam Bones addressing everyone…

The connection broke, and Neville found himself reaching for the wall to steady himself.

Snape was at their side in an instant, and guided them both back to their chairs. Surprisingly, Neville didn't feel all that bad like he normally did after a vision like that.

"What did you see?" Snape snapped.

"A few things," Harry said carefully. "Neville was standing in front of his parents' coffins…"

"I saw that, too," Neville said weakly.

"That one with me and Ginny…that was Headquarters," Harry said. "Ginny and I have never kissed in headquarters. We weren't together the last time we were there."

"The future?" Neville said.

"I hope not," Harry said. "Ginny looked pretty upset."

"Professor, you were in one of the visions," Neville said.

Snape didn't look surprised. "I have been trying to break into both of your minds for the last hour. That might leave a mark," he said. "What did you see?"

"You were pacing back and forth in front of dungeons and wearing a dress robe," Harry said.

Snape looked puzzled. "That must be the future," he said. "I don't believe I've ever worn a dress robe down here."

"Then a crowd at the Ministry of Magic," Neville said. "I don't know what that was about."

"So one picture of something that happened in the past. And then two things that will possibly happen in the future," Snape said slowly. "I really hate having to ask this, but which of you snogged your girlfriend before you came here."

Neville looked at Harry, since Neville hadn't seen Luna since lunch.

"That would be me," Harry said, with a sly grin. "Sir."

"How often would you say you've been having these visions now," Snape asked.

Neville thought about that for a moment. "It's at least once a week now, sir," he said.

"Maybe even more than that," Harry added. "And it's a mixture now. Sometimes its things we think is the future, some the past and some the present."

"That's what Dumbledore has told me," Snape said. He looked at them both with a hint of malice in his eyes. "Now, like I said before…if I find out that you two are planning anything without telling Dumbledore or myself…"

"We're not planning anything, sir," Neville said, trying to look puzzled.

Snape jerked his head towards the door, indicating that Neville and Harry could leave. Neville jumped up and headed through the door.

"Well, I guess the good news is that he knows we're planning something," Harry started.

"But he hasn't the slightest clue what it is," Neville finished.

"You know," Harry laughed. "They way we have been finishing each other's sentences lately makes me feel like we're an old married couple or something."

Neville laughed and then turned serious. "Are you scared at all?" he asked as they walked towards the Gryffindor common room.

"Of tomorrow?" Harry asked.

Neville paused. "Of possibly being killed tomorrow."

"You're in the same boat, mate," Harry said.

"I know," he sighed. "I don't want to kill you, Harry."

"I don't want to kill you, either," Harry said. "I never thought that when we met that we would become such good friends."

Neville grinned. "I never thought I would have any friends first year."

"So what are you going to do on what could be the last night of your life?" Harry said. The words sounded mean-spirited but Harry's tone was the opposite.

"Spend it with Luna," Neville answered promptly. "You?"

"Same," Harry nodded.

"Sorry, Harry, but you're not spending the night with Luna and me," Neville laughed.

"I meant spend it with Ginny, you dolt," Harry said, punching Neville in the arm.

There was not much else to say. "Let's get some dinner," Neville said, trying to be cheerful.

"Sounds like a plan."

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After dinner, Neville and Luna walked hand to the Greenhouse. Luna was unusually quiet. Neville knew it was because of tomorrow night.

When they reached the Greenhouse, Luna went straight to her usual stool and simply stared at Neville, unblinkingly. Neville decided he wanted to feel his hands in the earth one last time and started working.

"Are you growing more Turnishes?" Luna asked softly, watching him work. Neville nodded. He glanced at her and saw that she was wearing the Turnish earrings he had given her for Valentine's Day last year.

"Want to help?" Neville asked. Luna nodded and stood next to him. She rolled up the sleeves to her blouse and plunged her hands in the dirt. For close to an hour they worked in silence, trimming, weeding and watering the various projects Neville had started. But then Luna threw down her watering can and looked at him.

"Neville…" Luna trailed off. Neville could hear her voice shake slightly. "If something happens to you tomorrow…don't worry about your plants. I'll take care of them. I'm not the best in Herbology, but I'll learn and get better and I'll make sure they grow and thrive and…"

Neville cut her off by wrapping his arms around her and kissing her passionately. He didn't care that his hands were covered in earth as he ran them through her hair. He felt her put her small hands on his cheeks, probably leaving some dirt on his face put he didn't mind a bit.

He wanted to remember this moment forever, exactly how it was. How Luna fit against his body…how her lips tasted…he wanted to remember everything.

More than an hour later, they broke apart. "I love you, Neville Longbottom," she whispered.

"I love you, Luna Lovegood," Neville said, stroking her cheek.

"We should probably go to bed," Luna said. "It's getting late."

"Okay," Neville said, taking her hand. He walked her to the West Tower, where they spent some more time together before she disappeared into the portrait hole. Then Neville stopped in one of the bathrooms to wash his face before he went back to the Gryffindor common room.

The common room was fairly quiet, but Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were all sitting by the fire. Ron was holding a bottle of what looked like fire whiskey.

"Have a drink," Ron said, pouring Neville a glass.

"We're drinking now?" Neville asked.

"Celebrating our last night together," Harry said, taking a sip.

"And look, even Ron let me drink," Ginny grinned.

"But no one can tell Mum," Ron said. "Because if she knew, she would kill-" Ron stopped suddenly and shifted in his seat.

"Maybe the prophecy won't be fulfilled tomorrow night," Hermione said quickly.

"It ends tomorrow," Harry said determinedly.

Neville saw Hermione's eyes filled with tears. Ron put his arm again her and help her close. "To think we would never even be friends if you hadn't called me a nightmare first year," Hermione said, half smiling

"Or if we hadn't locked the troll in the bathroom with you," Harry grinned.

"That too," Hermione laughed. She squeezed Ron's hand.

Neville took a long sip of his fire whiskey and felt the burn down his throat. "The DA changed my life, you know," Neville said seriously. "If the group hadn't formed, I would have never practiced those spells and become confident in them. And when I became confident in my spell work, I became confident in other things. Like asking Luna out."

"To the D.A.," Harry said, raising his class.

"To the Protectors of Hogwarts," Ginny added.

"The Protectors of Hogwarts!"

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All eight members of the Protectors of Hogwarts were sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall at dinner. They sat slightly away from the rest of the students at the table.

"Broomsticks are hidden, right?" Hermione asked nervously.

Luna nodded serenely. "I've been sneaking one out at a time for the last four days," she told the group.

They had Harry's Firebolt, Ron's Cleansweep, Draco's Nimbus 2001 and Ginny's Silver Arrow, which she had gotten as a Christmas present. They were good brooms and they would be able to get them to the Riddle house easily.

"And we know what to do after dinner?" Hermione asked.

"Haven't we gone over this before?" Draco asked. "Go to our common rooms, change out of our uniforms and wait."

"I just confirming the plans, Malfoy," Hermione said stiffly.

"Squirt leaves the Hufflepuff common room first, since she has to be inside earlier than the rest of us," Draco continued.

"Who are you calling squirt?" Nata asked, sounding offended.

"No fighting," Ginny said quickly. "Especially tonight. Tonight we have to work together."

"Dumbledore is looking at us strangely," Ron reported.

"Luna and I leave then," Draco said. "Followed by Gryffindor, in two shifts. It's going to be all right, Granger."

"I know. I know," Hermione said. "No one forget your map to the house and the map of the house."

"Blimey good map I made if I say so myself," Draco said smugly.

Students were starting to leave the tables then. "Let's go. We'll all meet in an hour," Hermione said.

Neville barely remembered the walk to the Gryffindor common room. He went straight to his dorm and changed out of his uniform into a pair of jeans and a jumper. He took off his black dress shoes and put on a pair of trainers, easier to run in, if necessary.

When he went back down to the common room, Harry, Ron and Ginny were starting a game of exploding snaps. "Trying to look relaxed," Ginny whispered. Neville joined in while Hermione watched the game.

The clocked chimed eight and Neville and Harry stood up and vaguely mentioned needing to go to the library. They slipped out the door and headed out to the Forbidden Forest. Luna, Draco and Nata were already waiting for them.

"Ron, Hermione and Ginny should be about ten minutes behind us," Harry said.

Sure enough, ten minutes later, the three of them could be seen. "All right, pair up," Harry ordered. Hermione was going to ride with Ron. Nata with Draco, Luna with Ginny and Neville would ride with Harry.

They all mounted their broomsticks. "We need to stay low until we're out of sight of Hogwarts," Harry instructed. "I'll let the flyers know when we can gain altitude. Riders, have your wand ready in case we're attacked."

"Sounding like Mad-Eye there, mate," Ron grinned.

"I'm serious," Harry said. "All right, let's go."

Neville had to wrap his arms around Harry's waist as they went off of the ground. When they were flying straight, he put his hands on Harry's shoulders to keep his balance.

He looked around at the group. Hermione was riding with both legs to one side and her head buried in Ron's shoulder. Neville could tell Hermione was trying desperately not to look down. He could hear Ron also reassuring Hermione as they flew.

Hermione guessed that it would take an hour and a half or so to fly to the Riddle House. One of two times, Neville thought about taking out his pocket watch and seeing how long they had been in the air.

"We're getting close!" Harry yelled. "We need to go lower!"

Neville leaned back and hoped that he wouldn't lose his balance. He had certainly decided that he didn't like being the passenger on a broomstick.

"Land on that side of the woods!" Harry shouted, pointing towards a small patch of forest. Neville looked, and he could the house. The house where their lives would take shape.

They landed quickly. Harry wanted to go immediately, but then saw the look on Hermione's face. It was clear she needed a moment to regain her composure. After almost five minutes, Hermione took a deep breath and said, "I'm fine now."

Harry looked around and smiled slightly.

"Then what are we waiting for?"