Chapter Thirteen

A/N: My absolute and total love to all of my reviewers! You guys make the world go round, I swear. Procrastinator, I agree with you, Chapter Twelve was a little odd to me too. But we all need fillers now and again right? Snappish79, as always, thank you for your review. A little obsession never hurt anyone! CheekyAngel, you are so kind! Your review brought my day onto a whole new level. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Disclaimer: Show of hands, who REALLY thinks that I could claim to own Harry Potter?

            "Welcome back everyone!" Professor Sprout beamed at her class. "I trust you all had a lovely holiday. Now, we are going to continue with our lessons from before the break, so if you will all take out your notes please. . ." she looked over all of the students, "No Longbottom. . ." Harry heard her mutter under her breath.

            "Hermione, did you notice that Neville is still missing?" Harry asked her as they made their way out of class an hour later.

            "I have." said Ron. "I can't say that I miss his snoring though."

            "Ron, this is serious." Hermione scolded him.

            "When am I not serious?"

            "Oh shut up and listen to Harry!" she snapped.

            "It's been close to a month, and we've seen neither hide nor tail of Neville." Harry said. "Something is definitely up. The only other time I heard about him was when Ginny checked the hospital wing."

            "Maybe we'll be able to get something out of Madame Pomfrey now?" Ron suggested.

            "It's worth a shot."

            Later that night, after classes, Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way down to the Hospital Wing.

            "Which one of you has broken something now?" Madame Pomfrey asked, looking the three of them up and down for sign on injury.

            "None of us actually." Ron said.

            "We were just wondering if you knew what happened to Neville Longbottom." Harry said.

            "Mr. Longbottom is away for a short amount of time. There's nothing to worry about he's fine. Now you three need to run along. I have students that need tending to."

            Harry, Ron, and Hermione pleaded with her to get her to tell them more, but their efforts were useless.

            "I wonder what's wrong with him. . ." Ron mused later that night while he and Harry were getting ready to go to bed.

            "I wonder where he is." Harry said.

                        "Look at this!" Hermione had just unfurled the latest issue of the Daily Prophet at breakfast the next morning.

            "What is it?" Harry asked, craning his neck to get a better view.

            "Someone tried to break into St. Mungos." Hermione's voice was just above a whisper.

            "They what?!" Ron leaned across the table.

Break In At St. Mungos

            Monday night security at St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Injuries and Maladies was breeched. Ministry Officials arrived on the scene to find a very flustered Chloe Musgrave, head Healer of the particular shift that was interrupted on Monday evening. Miss Musgrave insisted that nothing was taken from the hospital, but that some of the patients were rather shaken up.

            Ministry Officials have gathered that the intruders did make contact with a few of the patients in the Closed Ward.

            Hermione gasped.

            "What is it?" Ron asked.

            "Neville's parents. They. . . they're in the Closed Ward."

            Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge is quoted as saying that "this is just the beginning". In light of recent events, the Minister strongly believes that this break in has something to do with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

            The only serious damage done was to two patients in the Closed Ward. Ex- Aurors, Alice and Frank Longbottom, were both said to have had confrontations with the intruders. No specific information has yet to be released.

            Hermione dropped the paper onto her plate. "Neville's parents." she whispered.

            "What. . . What would anyone want with them?" Ron questioned.

            Harry's mind began to reel. This was the first bit of news they had had for near four months. "That must be why Neville is gone. . ."

            "But Neville left long before that. . ." Hermione said.

            Ron scrunched up his forehead. "What would Death Eaters want with Neville's parents. . . I mean, they really aren't in the best shape."

            "Unless they were. . ." Harry began.

            "What?"

            "What if. . . What if Neville's parents did come around. . ."

            "They probably know more about Voldermort than anybody else." Hermione gasped.

            Harry nodded. "What if, they were. . . useable. . ."

            "He wouldn't want them blabbing. . ." Ron finished. "He'd want to shut them up. . ."

            "Guys. . . I think that Neville's parents are in real trouble. . ."

A/N: Dun dun dun! The plot thickens. . . So does THIS give you an idea to where Neville's been? I know it was short. . . but really, how could you follow up with something like that? I'm not exactly sure how to transition, but I'll think of something.

So review and tell me if you like this change of events!