Chapter Twenty-Nine – Blackpool Pier

Neville Longbottom sat at the edge of Blackpool Pier, letting his bare feet skim the cool water below. The day was cloudy, and several times he stopped himself from wrapping his arms around his body for an extra bit of warmth. He looked out across the water and tried to find something. Just what, he wasn't sure.

The sound of laughter behind him forced him out of his reverie. Neville turned his head and saw a couple walking down the pier, hand in hand. The two looked so happy to be together that Neville couldn't help but smile.

The pair came closer. The man was of middle height, with dark blonde hair. He looked at the short, round-faced woman with adoring eyes. She had black wavy hair that framed her bright red cheeks. She looked like she had never known a day's misery in her life; that her days were filled with light and laughter.

The woman's eyes lit up when they settled on Neville. "Is it time already?" she cried. "My darling boy!"

Neville stood up as quickly as he could and threw himself into his mother's arms. The woman that had haunted his dreams for so long. And she looked just as he dreamed of her, young and strong.

He felt his father put his hand on Neville's shoulder, and Neville thought that he had never experienced real happiness before. That everything before this had just been an illusion. This was happiness. Right here. Right now.

"I want to know everything," Alice said happily, placing her small hands on Neville's cheeks.

"Oh, Mum," Neville said, wiping a tear from his eye. "Is it really you?"

"Of course it is," Alice said, kissing Neville on the forehead. "I want to know all about you."

"It's so good to finally talk to you, son," Frank Longbottom said, causing Neville to beam.

"I helped defeat Voldemort," Neville said proudly. "Thanks to your Rememberall."

"That was all Alice," Frank said, putting his arm around her.

"No one believed our theory," Alice said. "Not when Albus was convinced it was love. I just needed to find a way to preserve it quickly."

"And because of that, Voldemort is gone," Neville said, smiling.

"That's wonderful!" Alice gushed. "He's really gone?"

Neville nodded, but then realized that he wasn't exactly sure. What had happened? Alice took his hand, and they started walking slowly back up the pier.

"Where are we going?" Neville asked, sighing just a bit. To be with his parents now...it was more than he could describe.

"We've come to take you home, dear, dear Neville," Alice said, with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Home?" Neville asked. Home was Hogwarts; home was holding Luna in his arms. He looked to the end of the pier. Was Luna waiting for him there?

"I didn't think it'd be so soon," Frank said, putting his arm around Neville's shoulder.

Neville stopped in his tracks. Tears silently poured down his cheeks. This was everything he wanted, to be with his parents again, when they were healthy. But he knew this wasn't right. It wasn't time. What about the little girl he had seen in the vision?

"I can't," Neville said firmly. "Not yet. I'm not ready."

Alice smiled. "Are you sure?" she asked gently. "You can come with us, you know."

Neville shook his head. "It's not time yet," he said, throwing his arms around his parents. He hugged them as hard as he could. As he let them go, he knew he would do everything he could to remember that sensation.

"I love you, very, very much, Neville," Alice said. "Don't ever forget that."

Frank held out his hand, and Neville shook it eagerly. "You're a good man, son. I love you," Frank said.

"I love you, Mum," Neville cried. "I love you, Dad!"

Alice and Frank nodded and took each other's hand. Slowly they turned around and walked to the end of the pier. Neville watched every step they took. Before they stepped onto land, Alice turned and cupped her mouth with her hands.

"Someday, you'll be ready. But not for a long, long time, Neville, dear. We'll be waiting for you!"

She turned her back to Neville, and he watched in amazement as they slowly faded into the mist.

Neville walked purposely towards the water. He knew he had to leave this place. He couldn't stand on the pier forever, waiting for something to happen.

He looked down, and remembered the sensation of his uncle dropping him off of the pier. How terrified he had been underneath the murky water. Not knowing if he was going to live or die. Waiting for someone to save him.

Neville felt like he was eight years old all over again. But now he knew that waiting here on the pier would be more terrifying than jumping. Taking a deep breath, Neville dived into the icy cold water. Keeping his eyes open the entire way.

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"Neville!" a voice cried.

Neville looked up groggily. "Luna?" he asked, slightly confused. A slight shriek confirmed that it was indeed Luna. She then proceeded to fling herself into Neville's arms.

"Oh, Neville," she sobbed. "I thought I lost you."

He found her small, perfect hand and gave it a squeeze. "I'm right here," he said, his voice raspy.

"Is he up?" a voice called.

Luna jumped up. "Madam Pomfrey! Neville's awake!"

"Out of my way!" the nurse cried, appearing from behind a white curtain. She forced a hideous tasting potion down his throat. Neville was barely able to swallow the potion, it tasted so foul.

But immediately, he felt better. There was warmth in his finger tips, and he felt a little more energized. Not even energized enough to think about sitting up, but more energized just the same.

He closed his eyes briefly, and watched his parents' faces dance in front of him. Had it been just a dream? It felt like it had been so much more.

"Now, I know you feel better, but you need your rest. Miss Lovegood, I'll have to ask you to leave," Madam Pomfrey said sternly.

"Please, can't she stay, Madam Pomfrey?" Neville asked softly.

Did he imagine it, or did Madam Pomfrey's eyes soften slightly? "Just for a few moments," she told them.

"Thank you," Luna said, smiling.

The moment that Madam Pomfrey disappeared behind the curtain, Luna climbed into the bed with him. Neville moved his arm and placed it around her shoulders.

"What's happened? Is everyone okay?" Neville asked quickly.

"Surprisingly so," Luna said. "You were the only one who was unconcience when we left the Riddle House. Though Hermione was vomiting a lot. But she's better now. Ron was bleeding internally, but he's patched up. Ginny broke her arm. Nata had black eye and Draco had a concusion"

"But what happened after I passed out?" Neville pressed.

"I'm not quite sure," Luna said. "I stayed with you while Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny went to the basement. After a while, Tonks showed up with the group and we took a portkey here."

"I think I heard you," Neville said, "When I was knocked out, I mean."

"Really?" Luna said shyly. "What did you hear?"

Neville took her hand and kissed it softly. "That you want to marry me," he said, grinning. "And that you want kids someday."

"You heard that?" Luna asked.

"You meant it, didn't you?" Neville said quickly.

"Of course I did," Luna said dreamily.

"Good," Neville said in mock relief.

A happy silence settled over the couple, letting them enjoy the moment. Neville knew he had a silly grin on his face, but he knew he couldn't stop smiling if he wanted to.

"Are you both done back there?" a voice yelled from behind the screen. It was Ginny.

"Yes," Neville and Luna said at the same time.

Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione came around to the foot of Neville's bed. They all had some sort of box of sweets in their hands.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," Ginny said.

"How long have I been out?" Neville wondered out loud.

"Maybe sixteen hours?" Harry guessed.

"That long?" Neville asked. He then made a motion to sit up. He was still apparently very weak, and needed Luna's help to get in a sitting position.

"So what's happened?" Neville asked. "Voldemort's gone?"

"I gave a statement to the Ministry," Harry said. "Madam Bones told me they've already destroyed the body. Though some people wanted to keep it and study it."

"That's far too risky," Hermione said briskly. "They've done the right thing."

"That's enough," Madam Pomfrey said sternly, appearing out of no where. "This boy needs some sleep."

"Go on," Neville said good naturedly. "I'll talk to you all later."

Luna gave him a quick kiss, then bounded off of the bed. Harry lingered behind as everyone left the curtained area. He brought a chair up to Neville's bed.

"How you feeling?" Harry asked.

"Not bad, considering," Neville said. He put his hand on his forehead. Normally, even when there was no pain, he would feel a slight tingling. But there was nothing.

"Looking for this?" Harry asked, pushing his hair off of his forehead. Neville's mouth dropped. There was nothing there!

"McGonagall thinks that the scar was a portal of the connection, or something like that," Harry said. "Now that he's dead, the portal's not needed."

Neville could tell Harry didn't quiet believe McGonagall's theory. He quickly placed his own hand on his forehead and couldn't feel the outline. "It's really gone," he said under his breath.

He looked carefully at Harry, who looked fairly miserable. "What's wrong, Harry?"

Harry took a deep breath. "It just didn't end the way I thought it would," Harry started. "With the whole forgiveness thing, I almost thought…"

"That Voldemort wouldn't die?" Neville asked. Harry nodded slowly. "I thought the same thing, Harry."

"I guess it wouldn't be possible," Harry mused. "A reformed Voldemort? I don't think the wizarding world is ready for that."

Neville chuckled softly. Something was wrong with Harry, Neville could tell. However, Neville was in no mindset to probe and find out what was bothering him.

"I have had to ask you three times now for your visitors to leave, Mister Longbottom," Madam Pomfrey said dangerously, appearing again from nowhere.

"Sorry, Madam Pomfrey," Neville muttered. Harry rolled his eyes and waved good bye, leaving Neville alone with his thoughts.

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And life was surprisingly normal after Neville left the hospital wing the next day. He half expected everything to change, now that Voldemort had been defeated. But students seemed more than happy to go right back into their normal routines.

The headline from the Daily Prophet that day had great news. Peter Pettigrew had been captured during the final battle, and confused all to the Ministry. Because of this, Sirius Black was given a full pardon by Madam Bones. That certainly helped lift Harry's spirits.

The Protectors of Hogwarts met for one last time in the Room of Requirements a week after the Final Battle.

"What I want to know," Nata said as she sat down, "Was how in the world did the Aurors know where we were?"

Ron shot Hermione a dirty look. "You might as well tell them," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Tell us what, Granger?" Draco asked.

"I did it to protect us," Hermione said defiantly. "I gave Professor Snape a note-"

"What?" Harry said, jumping to his feet.

"Hermione, how could you?" Ginny asked.

"Let her finish," Ron said quickly.

"I gave Professor Snape a note after Potions that day that would only reveal the ink when I pressed on a knut," Hermione said. "And I didn't press it until just after we got into the Riddle House. Do you really think that after all of our planning, I would tell Snape and let him stop us?"

Harry sat down, shaking his head. "Sorry," he said softly.

"You wouldn't," Ginny admitted.

"Thank you," Hermione said.

"So is this it, then?" Nata asked, sounding sad. "No more meetings? No more planning?"

"For a while," Harry said. Then on seeing Nata's crestfallen face, added, "You can have dinner with us still, once in a while."

"Thanks," Nata said cheerfully, running her hands through her hair, which Neville noticed was dark purple. Apparently, she wasn't worried about being kidnapped any longer.

"So how does it feel, Potter?" Draco asked suddenly.

"How does what feel, Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Having defeated the greatest evil of our lifetime?" Draco asked.

Harry stared down at his shoes for a moment. Then he looked around the room. "But I really didn't defeat him," Harry said slowly. "If it had been just me, I would have never been able to do it. I needed all of you."

"Thanks, Harry," Neville said, grinning.

"It's true," Harry said. "I don't mean to be cheesy or anything, but this is the way it was supposed to happen. The eight of us working together and defeating him."

There wasn't much to say after that. Slowly, everyone got up and left the room. Neville took Luna's hand, and together they walked to the Greenhouse.

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A/N – I generally don't write long author's notes, but I wanted to explain my take on the prophecy a little more. Like Hermione said last chapter, "Prophecies can be changed." Because of that, Forgiveness and Love both play a part in destroying Voldemort. When Voldemort possessed Neville, what saved him? Luna's love for him. She made Voldemort weaker by telling Neville how much she loved him while Voldemort was a part of him. Granted, Voldemort had felt flashes of love through the connection he shared with Neville and Harry. But nothing could have hurt him more than experiencing that love first hand. (And did anyone catch the spell Luna used after that?)

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to do something different than the typical, "Harry falls in love and now can destroy Voldemort" story. So I tried to think of different things that could be considered power. I read a great editorial at saying that the power Harry has is the power of hope. I thought about using that, but that seemed too easy for Harry. I wanted the power to be something Harry would have difficulty with; something that would make him struggle. And I came up with forgiveness. Now, I'm not religious, but I am a pacifist, so I do believe in the "turn the other cheek," concept. If Voldemort had learned to forgive, his parents, the orphanage, etc., early in his life, maybe he wouldn't have turned out the way he did. And I also think it's a value that's getting lost in our instant gratification society. (Kerry's getting off of her soap box now.)

Just in case there are any questions, the story is not over! There's still lots going on in Neville's life…N.E.W.T.S…graduation…stay tuned!