Rowling's stuff isn't mine. Point said. On with the story. Reviews productivity.
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The night passed quickly into day as Ron's plans solidified into existence. He wanted to laugh at each and every part of the plan. By themselves, the family couldn't come up with something like this... but together, they could. Right now, he was busy packing up his room quickly. Ginny was busy taking care of the Polyjuice Potion by getting hairs from him, their mother, their father, and herself. They would plan them on the Kissed and forced them to drink the potion when Bill's wards went off. They would have approxiamately 5 minutes to portkey out of the house before the Anti-Portkey and Anti-Apparration Wards went up and all havoc busted loose. Mom's idea was wicked to say the least. She didn't mind losing the house if she could take out a handful of Death Eaters when it burned down. If it saved her family, she would do it. Fred and George were busy setting up a swamp in every portion in the house that was modified to be made with a little bit of quicksand and the menthane vapors. The Fireworks they had made and displayed in the Anti-Umbridge pranks were amazing and would do wonders in lighting the Menthane on fire. Ron knew the Dementors would come in first attempt to suck the souls of the "Weasleys" and go. After that, the Death Eaters would port in and kill them. It was simple plan on their part but Ron knew simplicity would win it. Too bad when they killed the Kissed they would revert back to their original form.
"Did you owl Luna and Neville?" Mom said as she bustled into his room. "We need to make sure they have a quick escape routes open as well. They, at least I don't think, don't have the resources we do when it comes to this. I've got an idea though. We should pretend to play "dead" for a little bit. It will teach your ambitious brother that is in the Ministry to understand family means everything."
Ron burst out laughing. His mom was reduced to tears everytime Percy was mentioned but to play "dead" had its advantages. A perfect prank that would allow all family members to participate and hopefully, bring one of their own back into the family's fold. "No, I haven't had the time to sit down and write the letters out the Luna and Neville. I will get on it right away." He stopped packing and began to look around for ink and parchment. His mother just watched them wondering what had become of her youngest male child of the family. He was growing up and he was showing that he was cut from the cloth of the Weasley's and the Prewett's but he was also showing that he was going be something more than a dragon tamer, an Auror, a Ministry official, or a curse breaker. He was going to be one of the ones that helped change the Wizarding World. Molly hated the pureblood idealism because of it the first war against Voldemort had started. He hated everything that was non-pureblood. The Ministry was doing part of the work of Voldemort by making the laws that would ban the magical creatures any form of power and inspired the pureblood fascism. Molly nodded as she watched her son jot down a quick note to each of his classmates that had fought along with him in the Ministry and ask Pidgewidgeon (A/N: hopefully I spelled that right) to deliver the notes quickly to each of the recipients. Then he got back to work packing again before she had left the room, wanting lunch prepared for all of her children that were working hard.
Ron was still thinking the packing was going to slow though. He though with house elves they could have this done in a flash. Dobby! Ron's eyes lit up but they lit up further when they realized that there was one house elf that still wanted a home and a master desperately. Grabbing parchment again, he jotted down a note asking Headmaster Dumbledore to borrow Winky and Dobby for the time being to help with packing of the Weasley's house. He explained in the letter that it had to be done in post haste and hopefully if Winky did well enough, she would be bonded to the Weasley's. Errol took off to deliver the letter. Ron knew it was going to take him awhile because of his age but hopefully they would get the response through Dumbledore or the house elves within a day or two at the max.
"Food's up!" came the yell from his Mom. Sweet, thought Ron. He bolted downstairs almost running over Ginny who was taking the pictures down from the walls. Ginny recovered quickly enough to whip out a wand and trigger off her Bat-Bogey hex. Ron fell down as the massiver swarm of bats attacked his back.
"You know the rules, no magic allowed!" Ron yelled.
"But brother dear, I didn't perform the the magic. I just helped it along. Won Shot Wand property of Weasley's Wizarding..."
"Wheezes. I get it. How did Fred and George get that idea?" Ron grumbled, pushing himself up from the ground. "Blimey, that was amazing on the spell work."
"They got it from me. I gave them the idea when I noticed that sometimes it took us a little time to make up our mind in what any wizard was going to call for their first spell in a duel. Just grab the wand and squeeze, instant spell. No true spellwork needed, other than a lighter touch on handling the wand or it goes off earlier than expected." Ginny explained it to her strategist brother. He just stood their, grinning evilly. This tactic of spell warfare, the suprise first move, was the best yet.
"We need to see about keeping this on the down low. More of these wands need to be made for the DA or at least for girl's protection." Ron said.
"Why girl's protection?" Ginny countered slightly angry. They started walking again towards the kitchen.
"If a boy get's frisky or silences her, she still has a way to Stun or Bind a boy so she can get away. It's bad that a boy would force themselves upon a person. Gives all men a bad name."
"Too true, brother, too true." They sat down to a lunch, Weasley style, and began to empty the platters upon the table. Ginny could put away the food like her brother on some days.
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Neville woke early, like always. The mornings were the easiest time to tend plants in the summer before the heat got to him. He walked downstairs and noticed both Kingsley Shacklebolt and his Gran was up. Nodding to them both, he fixed himself some tea (he didn't like coffee that much) and some toast before sitting down.
Gran started the conversation first, knowing that once Neville had started eating his food, he was awake and talkative. "What are your plans for today?" She wanted his training to begin as soon as he would allow it which would be almost after the garden was tended.
Neville swallowed his bite of toast, thought for a moment before beginning. "I've got to get degnoming done first then I'll do somme watering before I take stock of the situation of the plants. After that, I'll pick all the vegetables that I can before lunchtime. Is there something else you need done?"
"Yes, Auror Shacklebolt would like to start your training as soon as possible. After lunch perhaps?" Nevilled nodded and she continued on. "He's going to put you through the ringer but you'll get used to it quick enough." Neville nodded again, a little hesistantly this time. He knew he needed the training and it would help in the end when it came to facing Bellatrix and Rudolphus Lestrange. They were the reason why he had to visit his parents at Saint Mungo's. He wanted to settle with his past and the only way to do it was through training.
Shacklebolt started in after his Gran finished, "We mainly need to start working on your physical fitness more than spell work. Spell work we can work on once you get back to Hogwarts or the ban for Underage Wizardry lifted." Neville nodded. "The gardening must give you at least a little bit of upper body strength, does it not?" Neville nodded again, chewing his toast. He didn't like to show off his body but there wasn't much flab up top because of the constant gardening he did. He just didn't like the attention he would get from it. "That's good. Then your excercise routine will not be much of a change for you, just probably a larger load of gardening for you."
"Can I be excused? I need to get the degnoming and the watering done." Both Gran and the Auror excused him from the table and he went back up stairs to grab his dragonhide gloves before coming back downstairs and heading out to the garden. Degnoming was easy for Neville. Grab the gnomes, aim for a tree, let loose. It couldn't bite him because of the gloves prevented it. Hearing a scream come from the gnome as it went through the air was plain hilarious. It allowed him to work on targetting when he imagined each tree was a Death Eater that had their wands out ready to curse him. Chunk, Scream, Thunk. It went in that repitious pattern for awhile. Some of the gnomes would hit trees, some would not. More often then not, they would.
"Not bad on your aim, not bad at all." a voice said. Neville jumped sky high, shocked. Turning around he noticed it was Shacklebolt. His heart began to calm down a little. "Scared you a little?" Neville nodded, laughing at the small incident. He had zoned in on just the degnoming and nothing else. "Work on keeping your arm straight with your target. If you swing your arm away your spell is going to go off in that direction. Sometimes a foot or two matters in a duel."
Neville stopped him right there with "What I don't understand?"
Kingsley just grinned and asked if he would like to do an experiment with him. Neville nodded dumbly not knowing what to expect. Kingsley conjured three small bean bags (imagine hackey sacks) and told Neville to stand right there. Shacklebolt took aim and fired the first bag three feet off to his left. It made Neville want to laugh. That was bad aiming. The next one came two inches away from his head, he jumped aside and felt another bag hit him in the chest.
"Where did that come from?" he asked aloud to himself. That last bag he didn't even realize was coming for him because he was focused on what the second bag had done, scare him into reacting to it.
"See what I mean?" Kingsley exclaimed.
Neville nodded, thinking for a minute. "You scared me with the second bag wanting me to go to the other side?" Kingsley nodded, smiling, knowing Neville was understading it. "You controlled my movements without me knowing it conciously." Kingsley just smiled as he went on. "If you control the duel, you control the outcome?" Neville asked curious.
Kingsley's grin grew larger. "Exactly! If you notice a person is going towards desk, for example, to hide behind. A well placed Reductor or Stunning Curse would get them to think other wise while they would have to stop then dodge the follow up curse that would be coming after it." Neville just looked at them, realizing that that was how Ron Weasley had won the chess games against his opponents. Control the board, control the outcome of the battle. Neville's face looked liked the sun had dawned upon it.
"I get it now." Kingsley knew the kid would want to learn what it took to win and win well but if Kingsley could break him of the lack of confidence then and only then Neville would be a force to be reckoned with. He let Neville get back to the degnoming and watched as a small owl landed on the fence, hooting to get attention. Neville stopped the degnoming process, which was almost done, and grabbed the letter and let the owl take off after thanking him. The letter was a quick read but Neville's face paled quickly.
"What's wrong?" Kingsley questioned.
"In the house, now." Neville had a look on his face that would make any junior auror run for cover. All Kingsley could do was obey because once in the house, he knew he would get explanations quick. They ran into the house and shut the door as they could hear the pops of people apparating into surrouding clearings. Neville paled more, Ron was right. It was beginning.
"Death Eaters, outside. Ron wrote me saying because of the DoM, they would most likely respond and to be prepared. It is too late to be prepared. It is time to run. Gran!" Neville filled Kingsley in quick ending it with a yell for his grandmother. She answered as quick and came down the stairs knowing that the wards had clued her into the unwanted guests.
"So they've came to finish off the remainder of the family that I have?" Gran shrieked. A quick Sealing charm on the door, she looked at Neville before asking Kingsley if he could make a portkey. He nodded and proceeded to do so. "Get him out of here. I am going to defend the house."
A quickly muttered "portus" from Kinsley made the letter Neville was holding become a portkey which Kingsley latched on to. "3,2,1" The portkey took effect and Neville felt a hook grab him around the navel and dump him into a busy room with a roped off area. "Welcome to Magical Law Enforcement Offices." Kingsley said before yelling out "Death Eater assault at the Longbottoms!" Neville heard the pops of several people apparating going to rescue his gran. For some reason, he knew it was too late. He started to break down crying, another person of his family was lost.
He heard Kinglsey in the background saying that Dumbledore needed to be in contact and that Amelia Bones needed to be summoned. Neville was guided to a chair where he was handed a Calming potion which he down quickly. He didn't like the effects but he needed to be able to tell the officials what just happened. 'Just great', he thought, 'just when I decide to get my act together, things get blown to hell and back.'
Harry awoke from a nightmare ridden sleep to the dawning morning. He knew the Dursley's wouldn't be up for awhile and he might have to be the one to prepare breakfast. Checking his alarm clock, he saw that he had about an hour before breakfast needed to be made. Hedwig gave a hoot reminding him that she wanted to be let out. Getting up and stretching, he went let Hedwig out with a warning to be careful as she flew out the window. Deciding that her cage needed cleaned and the food and water changed, he did exactly that. Took him a good twenty minutes or so but it gave him a small satisfaction that he did it without any help. Just then a owl flew into the window and landed on his desk hooting for attention. It was just a barn owl but he thanked it before it flew off, leaving it's letter. It was from Neville.
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Harry,
I was writing this letter to ask you something important. I know this is a touchy subject but did you realize the person that sent Sirius into the veil? You may already do but I will make it a little bit clearer for you. It was Bellatrix Lestrange, wife of Rudolphus Lestrange, the couple that put my parents where they are there. I felt helpless watching her duel. I wanted to thank you for dueling her because I couldn't. Thank you for taking charge and helping us, the DA that went with you, to survive. I want to get stronger to settle with Bellatrix and her husband. I need to settle it not just for my sake but for my parents. It is not right that they are alive and they are husks of what they once were. We need to stop them and stop Voldemort who slew your parents. Kingsley Shacklebolt is training me over the summer and I am going to apply myself to work forward to protecting the people around me. You've got me as a partner, Harry, and as a friend whether you like it or not. I hope you will appreciate me the same way.
Neville Longbottom
P.S. Gran was so proud of me, she actually praised me. We are going to go get my new wand soon! My punishment was 1 week of gardening and degnoming, how lucky am I?
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Harry just smiled. The letter was kinda what he needed. Neville wasn't going to pester him about spilling out his feelings about Sirius but what Neville was looking forward to was Harry and him going after the people that sent their parents to their own prisons, whether it was death or their own minds. Bella, Malfoy, Macnair, Dolohov, Rodulphus Lestrange, and anyone else that was a Death Eater was going to go down. He wanted them to suffer and if need be, die. If they died for their cause, so be it. Harry wasn't going to lose another person close to him again if he could help it. Harry set the alarm clock to remind him when breakfast was going to start when he heard a soft knock at the door. The knock suprised him enough to open it who was there suprised him even more.
It was Dudley.
"Can I come in?" that was all he said with a little bit of nervousness in his voice. Harry nodded and opened the door. He noticed that Dudley was smaller, not by much, but he was smaller.
"Have you been losing weight?" Harry blurted out before smacking a hand over his mouth in shock. He was going to get it. All Dudley did was grin and nod.
"We need to talk." came out of Dudley's mouth which suprised him even more. This side never came out of Dudley at all. Harry nodded and let Dudley sit on the bed. It groaned under his weight but didn't snap. Harry thought it was a little short of amazing but didn't say that allowed.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" Harry said curiously.
"I wanted to thank you." Harry was now gobsmacked when Dudley blurted that out. Holy crap, did he hear that right?
"Say what?"
"I wanted to say thank you from saving me from those dementors that happened last summer and I'm sorry that you got in trouble for it."
"Dudley, it was no problem. Even though I hate to admit it at times, you are family. They stick through each other through thick and thin. No matter what. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia may not think that way but I do." Harry's response was. He disliked his family at times but everyone had their faults and the Weasley's showed they loved Percy even though Percy did the equivalent of the Dursley's did to him on in emotional abuse. Still they loved him.
"Thanks, Harry, but there is still one more thing I should apologize for. I'm sorry for treating you the way I treated you in the past. I got a taste of my own medicine this past year while I was at Smeltings."
"How was that?" Harry was a little bit curious, no one could truly up Dudley in a physical fight, he was strong and he had a gang with him at all times usually.
"The Dementors have a lasting effect on me.. nightmares. Bad ones. Since I live in dorms, they were heard by everyone in that dorm. Word spread until it got to the counselor. What made it worse is I could see them sort of, on that night. It was fuzzy but I saw a shimmering of black. But back to subject, Harry, I found out what it was in essence to be you here at this house and around this neighborhood. I am sorry for that. Smeltings made my life horrible this past year but we've done this to you longer." The alarm buzzed saying it was time for Harry to get around to making breakfast.
"Look Dudley, let me think about this for a little. I can't say I forgive you right away. Alot happened to me as well in the past year and it ended on a very bad note but this is a good start. It is time for me to make breakfast you up for sitting at the table talking to me?" Dudley nodded, especially at the mention of food, he was just like Ron at times. "We are going to have a long talk about some stuff but first, come on, what would you like for breakfast?"
They walked out the door to Harry's bedroom and into the kitchen where the adults were up yet. Dudley sat down and decided he wanted to request a couple Bacon Lettuce Tomato sandwich for breakfast with orange juice on the side. Harry proceeded to set the coffee brewing before getting out the ingredients needed.
"Hey Dudley, can you make the toast for me so I can get this bacon crisp without burning it?" Harry asked. Dudley proceeded to set up the toaster and pulled out the loaf of bread. He made toast while joking with Harry to not burn himself with the bacon grease popping everywhere. Little did they know, Aunt Petunia was watching on in shock. She thought it wouldn't be possible for a Potter to get along with the Dursley's. Anti magic and Magic just didn't get along but for some reason it did. Shaking herself out of the stupor she was in, she bustled into the kitchen stopping the boys from talking where she fixed herself some coffee before sitting down. The coffee was perfect, just how she liked it. Hot and fresh with cream and sugar.
"I noticed what you two were doing earlier. Keep it from Vernon, okay?" Petunia said. Both boys 'Yes ma'am'ed then proceeded to go back to they were doing. Earlier that week, she had recieved a letter from Harry's Headmaster that explained that Harry had suffered from the death of his godfather on an attack upon Harry by Lord Voldemort. Petunia shivered at that name. She kept up to date with the Wizarding World before Lily had died even though she was jealous of her sister, she had tested pure Muggle but Lily had tested Wizard. It was simple as that. The reality was Petunia Evans was a late bloomer of a small amount of power. She was a Squib in a sense. She didn't have enough power for a basic spell but she could see magic. She was a failure to Vernon and hid it always. That is why she treated Harry the way she did. Jealousy, plain and simple. He had something she did not even though, she had only an inkling of what amounts Harry truly had. Toast was set upon a plate at the table followed by the cooling bacon, the crisp lettuce, and sliced tomato before Vernon had got down the stairs. He noticed the food was upon the table, grunted, fixed himself some coffee, grabbed the paper before preceeding to help himself to the food. Conversation at the table was short since Vernon was slightly afraid of what the 'freaks' guarding Harry were doing. Vernon found out Dudley was going for more boxing training today and congratulated him. He was proud one person other than him was making something of themselves. The 'freak' boy was a layabout that now couldn't pull his own weight in the house. It made Vernon furious but he just ignored it. He would be gone in a month or so, just like always.
After dishes were cleaned up, Harry and Dudley watched Uncle Vernon leave before sitting back down at the table. Harry thought about things for a few moments before speaking though.
"On a couple conditions will I forgive you. What I tell you, stays with us. Don't use it against me, ever. I want your help in training me physically." Dudley was nodding to the first two without a thought the last was though nearly made him spit the water he was drinking.
"What! Are you bloody mental?" he said in a raised voice. It was enough were Petunia heard it and was able to reprimand him about his language, "Sorry mum."
"I couldn't do anything other than use my want against the wizards who I fight against. I had a fist and feet I could've used. Because of a broken nose, a friend of mine couldn't pronounce any spell to save his life against the husband and wife that sent his parents to the insanity ward. If I could do that to one of them, on purpose, not a fit of rage, I can manage to defend everyone alot better. Will you help me or not?"
"On two conditions, I want to know everything about your world, you will tell me willingly. My counselor told me that. If you understand something, you no longer fear it. Second, you help me work on my diet. I want to lose weight. I've got a chance at being a good boxer but I've got flab because of sweets, fizzy drinks, and everything else. Yes or no?"
Both said it at the same time. "Deal" Little did they know, Petunia overheard them yet again, amazed at the deal that was sealed with her in hiding. Her ward and her child were going to better themselves. One instead of grieving was going to throw him at the problem's base and attack it from the ground up. The other was already doing that with his. It was amazing. Grinning, she peered out the windows trying to figure out where the others were watching the house from. Petunia's curiousity or nosiness was getting the best of her in this situation.
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Hermione woke after a few hours of sleep to a bad dream of Dolohov nailing her yet again with the blasted Flame Severing Curse. It hurt and her body remembered it. It was a few hours before her parents would be getting out so she swung herself out of bed, grabbed one of her potions and began to guzzle the infernal mixture. Almost gagging twice, she finished. Darting downstairs, she grabbed a Coke out of the fridge and noticed that their kitchen table was quite large. With several trips to and from her room she brough down all of her charms books, defense books, history, and transfiguration. She broke upon her notebooks of History pouring through them, jotting down what spells that would be typically used by a Dark wizard and what attacks they would normally use. That was a time consuming task for her to do but in the end she was pleased with her list.
From Hermione's notes :
Dark wizards have the tendency to wait until the darkness to be able to sneak into the houses of their victims to begin the attack. Since wizards live in large than normal houses, no one hears their screams since noone is around to help them. Very rarely is a public place attacked unless all of them can get away (See example : Quidditch World Cup) . Using Crucio, Avada Kedavra, Imperio, Inferi (what is the Inferi? need to look it up.)(A/N this is Hermione's notes so if you don't see another note, don't respond to this. This is her stream of conciousness.) Bone Breaker (need to look up as well) which is said to be a light sided spell dealing with healers mainly, the Flame Severing Curse (need to look up as well. If it can be used Silenced it is truly a brutal spell.) Levitation was used at the World Cup as well. Which brings me to my next point.
Can all spells be used for a Light or a Dark purpose? Crucio, I can't truly see a use for off the top of my head but Imperio, it can be used to prevent people from suiciding or a mental patient from going rampant in the ward causing harm to others. Avada Kedavra is a simple spell in reality, it has one purpose : to kill. In the older days, could it have been used to hunt prey if need be? I've noticed that wizards are particularly hands off when it comes to killing or any type of gore. Its usually demostrations of power, torture, then death for their own perverse illusionment. Not adding in the females captured are more often than not raped.
This is where Hermione's notes leave off.
"Hermione, you're up early." It was the voice of her mother, Emily Granger.
"Couldn't sleep anymore."
"Me neither, I am going to start breakfast, want some?" Hermione just nodded. "We contacted Mrs. Figg. She said they would get in contact us later today." Hermione nodded again as she watched her mom get out the bacon, eggs, and bread for breakfast. "What are you working on?"
"Habits that a Dark Wizard normally do. Its not complete." Hermione's reply came. Emily winced. Not complete wasn't a good thing in any profession. If a doctor didn't know that the patient was immune to sleeping gas, that patient had nightmares then on of the operation. They had gotten lucky but other doctors haven't when it came that problem.
"What does it need to be complete?"
"Alot more books or a knowledgable Auror." When Hermione said that, a light went off in her head. Mad-Eye Moody. "That's it. Thanks mom." Pulling out a fresh sheet of parchment, she began to scribble a request for Moody to tell her everything that a Dark Wizard would use in their activities.
"Do you want to go to Diagon Alley as well?" Hermione stopped at that and just nodded. "I'll go with you today. We need to blend in so we need to look like wizards there. We'll get robes first." Hermione was shocked at the flash of intelligence when it came to her mother. She suggested they had blend in and look the part of a pureblood, quite hard to do but not impossible. All she could do was grin.
"What about Dad?"
"He's still got our appointments that need to be done."
"When do we go?"
"After we finish breakfast."
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The end of another chapter. It's going to pick up real soon but as you realize Harry is almost over his grieving process. Neville will have news delivered to him at Auror Headquarters, while Ron's plans are going to be tested.
Just for you to know the ships at the present moment are going to be--
Harry - Multi
R/Hr
NL/LL
RL/OC- female werewolf.
