Chapter Twenty-Eight – Two Fates Intertwined
"Expelliamus!" Neville cried at the exact same moment Harry yelled, "Stupefy!"
Voldemort blocked both spells easily. "Potter, I thought you would have improved by now."
Harry glared at him, full of hatred.
"We can do this, Harry," Neville whispered.
"How touching," Voldemort sneered. His red eyes settled on Neville. "So you are the one that has intruded…Neville Longbottom…"
"Harry?" a voice cried from behind the locked door. Someone was pounding on the door. "Harry, are you in there?"
"Get out of the way!" Neville heard Hermione yell. "Alohomora!"
The door flung open, almost coming off of its hinges. Ron, Hermione, Draco and Nata all rushed in, wands out.
"You have quite the army, Mister Potter," Voldemort said approvingly. "Are they all willing to die for you like my Death Eaters?"
"Yes," Draco said calmly.
"Malfoy," Voldemort said, his eyes narrowing in surprise. "I will admit, I didn't see you joining Potter. Shame your parents aren't here to see this. They would disgraced beyond words. Your father, I had no use for…but your mother…that was a different story…"
"Stupefy!" Draco screamed and the same time Voldemort lifted his wand. Voldemort waved it once, and as if a giant hand had slapped him, Draco flew out of the room.
"I'm going to kill them one by one, Potter, until it is just you and me…" Voldemort said.
He lifted his wand and pointed it towards Nata. And the exact moment Voldemort's spell left his wand, Harry said his own and the beams of light met. It was exactly what had happened when Neville and Harry dueled.
Harry held on to his wand as quickly as he could. "Get out of the room," he grimaced.
"We're not leaving you!" Ron yelled.
"Get out!" Harry cried. "This is between him and me! Get out now!"
Hermione took Nata by the arm and led her out of the room, followed by Ron. Luna went to follow, but the door slammed in her face. Neville could hear Ron banging on the door again.
"Don't cast any spells at him," Harry said, gritting his teeth.
Neville stood still, his wand out, ready to strike when the connection between Harry and Voldemort was broken. Fate had decided. Harry was the One, Neville the Other.
With a blinding light, Voldemort disappeared.
"Is he gone?" Luna asked.
"He's still here," Harry said, his voice shaking slightly. "Everyone be ready."
Neville held his wand tightly, when suddenly he was gripped with the pain he didn't think was possible. He wasn't himself anymore; someone was with him now.
"See, Harry…" Neville said in a voice not his own. "Dumbledore couldn't kill me when he had the chance…and neither will you…"
Neville dropped to his knees. He couldn't imagine enduring this pain any longer, and yet the pain did not stop. His eyes met Harry's, and the reflection from Harry's glasses showed that his eyes were now blood red.
Harry picked up his wand and pointed it straight at Neville's chest. Neville breathed a sigh of relief. It would be over soon. The pain would be over…
"I'm so sorry, Neville…" Harry said, his face a mixture of sweat and tears.
"Harry, no!" a voice cried. Neville's vision was blurry. Any moment he knew he would die from this agony. Neville would welcome the relief…
"You can't do it, Harry," Neville taunted, still not in his own voice. "Because you're weak…"
Blonde hair fell in his face. "You are Neville Longbottom," said a clear, crisp voice. "And I love you more than anything in the world."
Neville could vaguely feel someone pressing against him, and covering his lips with their own. The pressure gave him hope, relieved some of the pain. Already he could breathe easier…
"What are you doing, Luna?" someone yelled.
"Saving Neville's life," Luna said quickly.
Through the haziness in front of him, Neville saw Luna move her wand in a large circular motion. "Fukuza Pepo Mbaya!" she cried confidently.
Immediately, Neville was knocked to the ground. He could feel his body twitching. Then he heard a loud crack. Neville wanted to sit up and look, but his body refused every command. He could hear the words being spoke furiously around him, but he couldn't tell who was speaking.
"He's gone!"
"He apparated this time. Neville's safe."
"What just happened? Why did the door open?"
"What's happen to Neville?"
"Is he dead?"
"I'm sure he's not dead, Nata."
"Is that it, then? Is Neville the One?"
"He must be."
"Please wake up, Neville Longbottom."
"Luna, I'm sure he'll be fine."
"Potter! He just went down the stairs to the basement! There's a door there. We can't let him escape!"
"Let's go! Luna, we need you!"
"I'm not leaving him!"
"Don't make her, Harry. We'll be fine."
"Fine. Let's go."
Neville could hear the footsteps going away from him as someone stroked his cheek. He wanted to get up. He needed to get up. He needed to help…
"Damnit!"
"Is it locked?"
"I don't believe this! I thought he needed all of us!"
"Alohamora!"
"It's not budging."
"Expelliamus!"
"No! Squirt! Stupefy!"
Neville heard more footsteps running away from him. Someone was speaking to him. But now he was simply too exhausted and broken to understand the words. All he wanted to do was sleep…
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"Neville…please wake up," a young woman's voice sobbed softly. "Please, Neville."
Neville stirred. He tried opening his eyes. But darkness surrounded him. He wanted to see the girl. She sounded so sad, so upset. Surely he could make her feel better.
"Neville!" another voice screamed. This voice was different. The voice sounded so far away, and the voice was angry, very angry. "Neville, I need you with me!"
Harry…is that you?
"Yes! Neville, I need you to concentrate. I can't do this without you!" Harry yelled forcefully.
Harry Potter needs my help?
Neville was confused. No one ever wanted help from Neville Longbottom. All he ever did was manage to melt another cauldron or mess up another spell. Why would the Boy-Who-Lived want his help? Then it all came rushing back to him. Voldemort possessing his body…Luna fighting for his very soul. Was that Luna who had been crying?
"I've got him!" Harry said frantically. Neville realized Harry wasn't speaking to him. Who was Harry talking to? All Neville could see was darkness. But then…figures started appearing in front of him. Very blurry, but he could make out shapes.
"I feel you in my head, Neville," Harry said softly. "Can you see what I see?"
Neville concentrated on their connection, seeing what Harry was looking at. Ginny Weasley was in a corner, unconscious. Her arm was lying at an unnatural angle. Ron Weasley was sitting upright against a wall. His eyes were closed, and blood was dripping from the corner of his mouth. Hermione Granger was on all fours, panting slightly. She was clutching her stomach.
It was if all at once, every odd thing they had experienced in their minds during the past year had happened at once. Neville could see exactly what Harry was seeing. He knew exactly what Harry was thinking. Both of their mental states had to maxed out to the extreme.
Harry turned his head and Neville saw both Professor Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort lying on the floor, next to a staircase.
Are they dead?
"Professor Dumbledore is," Harry said angrily. "Voldemort sent a killing spell at me, and Dumbledore jumped right in front of it. Bastard. Why did he do it?" Neville wondered if Harry meant Voldemort or Dumbledore.
What about Voldemort?
"The spell rebounded. But it didn't kill him," Harry said frantically. "It only stunned him. This is my chance, Neville. All I need to do is kill him…right now. I could use the killing curse."
But the prophecy…the Remembrall…
"Damn the prophecy!" Harry yelled. "I don't care about the prophecy. I want this to be over!"
You know what you need to do, Harry…
"I can't do it!" Harry screamed. "How do I forgive this? Where do I find it in me to forgive him?"
Please, Harry….
"I won't do it!" Harry cried out. He sounded like he was in agony. "What if we're right, Neville? The moment I break our connection, you're dead. I'm not The One, Neville. I'm the Other. You won't live while I'm alive. I don't want you to die because of me! Everyone dies because of me!"
"Harry?" a voice asked.
Harry turned his head quickly, causing Neville's vision to become shaky. His eyes settled on Hermione, who had managed to sit herself up, though she was still clutching her stomach, clearly still in pain.
"Prophecies can be changed, Harry," Hermione whispered. "I can't believe I didn't see it before…"
"What are you talking about, Hermione," Harry demanded. "You're the one who kept insisting that the prophecy needed to be fulfilled."
"Innocent blood shall be split," Hermione said softly.
"What are you saying?" Harry cried. "Plenty of innocent blood has been split."
"But not the night you found Sirius, the night we rescued Buckbeak," Hermione said, her voice stronger now. "That was a true prophecy. And blood should have been spilt that very night. We changed it all, Harry, with the time turner. Blood was not spilt. You have the power to change the prophecy."
"It's too far along now, Hermione," Harry said, sounding defeated.
"Neville doesn't need to die," Hermione said, sounding angry. "You have the power within you, Harry. You're the one here. You are the one who can end this. Not Neville. The prophecy has been interpreted a thousand different ways tonight. First, you were the One. Then because of what happened upstairs, we all thought Neville was The One. But right here, right now, you are The One, Harry Potter. Five minutes from now that might change. Because prophecies can be altered."
Harry closed his eyes, and Neville found himself feeling weaker.
"Neville, I love you so much." The young woman's voice was back again. "In a few years, we'll get married, won't we? And then I want lots of babies, so that they'll always have each other, even after I'm gone. I know you'll be so good to them. Please don't leave me, Neville!"
Harry's eyes opened, yanking Neville away from the girl's voice. Neville had liked what he heard. He would love to be a father…
"Neville! Don't leave me, mate!" Harry cried, forcing Neville's attention back to the basement. Harry was looking back at Voldemort's body. Voldemort stirred, and Neville could feel the hatred coursing through Harry's veins.
You have to find the power to forgive him.
"Harry," Hermione said weakly. "I'm so sorry." Harry turned his head. Neville saw Hermione back on all fours, vomiting. Then she passed out.
"I don't want to be alone," Harry said frantically. Neville felt Harry becoming afraid.
You're not alone, Harry! I'm here with you. I won't leave you!
"Stay in my head, Neville. I can't do this alone," Harry said softly.
Through Harry's eyes, Neville saw the five bodies on the floor. Harry lingered over Ginny's unconscious form.
"I can't do it, Neville. My parents…Sirius…your parents…Dumbledore…"
Neville tried to respond, but he and Harry were hit with a vision so powerful, that Neville was convinced it was real.
Harry stood over the grave of Neville Longbottom. He was buried next to his parents…Just a few years later, Harry was at the funeral of Luna Lovegood…Harry was in a darkened room, experimenting with the Dark Arts, slowly becoming addicted to the power…Harry in a dark hooded cloak, breaking into Azkaban, killing Death Eaters one by one, all in the name of revenge...He pushed back the hood of his cloak in front of Peter Pettigrew, and where bright green eyes once shone, a pair of blood red eyes, like a snake's, gleamed with malice…
"No!" Harry cried, dropping to his knees. The sudden movement caused Neville's head to spin. "That's not the future. It can't be. I won't have it!"
Then forgive him…
"How?" Harry begged. Neville had never heard Harry's voice so weak. "I don't know how, Neville."
Use the vision. You know what will happen if you don't.
Neville didn't understand. Why couldn't Harry see what needed to be done? Neville understood; he had been overwhelmed with grief and sadness while watching his parent's murderer fall slowly down the stairs to her death.
"It's not enough," Harry sobbed. "I can't do it!"
Another vision overwhelmed them.
Harry was walking alone down a crowded city street, full of muggles…Neville was standing over a man in a hospital bed, wizards all around him trying to shake his hand…Harry and Ginny were on a field, holding hands, surrounded by the ever-growing Weasley family…Neville lifted a young girl, with light brown hair and large silver eyes, over his head. He saw Luna, heavy with child, beaming at him, looking healthier than he had ever seen her…Harry had his arms around Ginny, who was sitting up, exhausted in a bed, holding a squirming bundle with red hair peaking out…
"Which one is real?" Harry asked desperately. "Neville, which one?"
It's your choice, Harry. That's the only thing I can think of.
Luna. She looked so beautiful in the vision. Was that their daughter? The little girl had Neville's round face, but Luna's amazing eyes. Neville desperately wanted to see the vision again.
"We had a baby," Harry whispered, looking at Ginny. "I want that future."
I understand it now, Harry…if you can't find it in yourself to forgive him; you'll end up just like him, full of hatred…
"I won't let that happen," Harry said, his voice full of determination.
You have your chance, Harry. So many people have given up their lives so that we can live. I want to live, Harry!
Neville was exhausted. It was taking all of his strength to keep up the connection between him and Harry. He knew he had to hold on. He was half-way between life and death now. If the connection was broken too soon, the darkness would overwhelm him.
Through Harry's eyes, Neville saw Harry rise to his feet, and walk slowly over to Voldemort. Voldemort was still unconscious, but Neville could tell he would wake soon. It was time for Harry to make his choice.
Harry knelt down next to Voldemort and gently took the man's hand. Neville felt a burning sensation. Harry looked like he wanted to drop Voldemort's hand, but held on.
"You stole my family from me," Harry whispered. "You stole Neville's. You've destroyed countless lives."
Harry, don't! Please don't choose that path!
"But you didn't break us. They'll always be here with us, and we've found new people to call family. Unlike you," Harry said.
"Your family was stolen from you, just like mine was. But you didn't reach out. You got lost in yourself, trying to gain a sense of completion from revenge. Your life could have meant something, like mine does when I see my friends, and the family I'll have someday.
"For that I truly feel sorry for you," Harry said, his voice breaking with emotion. The vision of Harry with his arms around Ginny and the baby flashed in front of their eyes. "And…and I forgive you for what you've done."
Harry held on to Voldemort's hand and started crying. "That was the hardest thing I've ever done, Neville."
It needed to be done, Harry.
Harry gently placed Voldemort's hand on his chest. Then he scooted away from the body and brought his knees up to his chest. "And what happens now?"
I don't know…
But then, a mist started to rise from Voldemort's chest. The mist gathered and became stronger until it was a dark smoke, hovering above the wizard's body. Time seemed to stand still as the smoke turned into a violent white light. Without any notice, the ball of light broke into hundreds of pieces, going every which way.
Harry looked down at Voldemort's body, and saw that it was still.
Take his pulse, Harry.
Neville watched Harry gently pick up Voldemort's wrist and look for a pulse. "I can't find one," Harry said softly.
It's over. It's finally over, Harry.
"Thank you, Neville," Harry said. Neville tried to respond, but the connection between them was growing weaker by the second.
"Neville?" Harry asked sharply, his voice sounding like a far away echo. "What's going on? Where are you? Why aren't you in my head?"
But by then, Neville had already slipped away into the darkness…
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A/N – I can not tell you how long I've had to wait to write this chapter. The first time "The Basement" was mentioned was in my story Seven Times Seven. I checked my notes, and I posted that specific chapter on Oct. 11, 2004. That's almost nine months ago! Nine months that this chapter has been brewing in my head. I know a lot of people have been waiting to find out what happened in the basement, so I really hope I didn't disappoint!
P.S. Only took me 23 hours to post.