Author's Disclaimer: I didn't invent Harry Potter, the Dursley's, or any other recognizable character. They belong to that great and honored J.K. who I am trying to humbly honor by inventing a few new characters to interact with hers.
Chapter 6
Getting Neville
Harry read through Ron's short note, then asked Pig to go to Hermione and see if she had an answer for him. Although Harry hadn't told Hedwig in which order to deliver the letters, he felt that Hedwig might have gone to his best friends first, since those were the ones she traveled to most.
He laughed at how short Ron's note was, and wondered if Mrs. Weasley had been asked or if they were sneaking around and trying to get Mr. Weasley to do the dirty work. It sounded as if they were doing the later.
After his rest, he'd decided to lounge by the swimming pool out back. As far as he knew both Remus and Odila were still taking a nap. 'Putting the Fidelis Charms up must take a lot out of a person,' he thought.
A hoot from close by alerted Harry to the presence of a barn owl. In its beak it held a letter. Harry got up from his seat and retrieved the letter. The owl looked at him as if to say that it was going to wait for an answer.
The letter was from Neville. As Harry had expected Mrs. Longbottom did not want Neville to stay away from her home for very long. Harry had tried to think of someway to get him if this happened, before he fell asleep. He had come up with a similar idea to Neville's. Convince his Grandmother that Neville had been chosen to participate in a once in a lifetime opportunity. The only thing was, Harry wasn't sure if he could pull it off.
After reading Neville's letter again, Harry decided to see if Odila was awake and ask her for some ideas.
After Harry explained everything to Odila, she looked at him and said, "We need Remus and Dora, if we're going to pull this off right."
"Why Remus and Dora?"
"You'll see. But you'd better send back a response to Neville, before that owl comes to peck you."
Harry quickly got a piece of parchment, a quill, and scribbled off a note to Neville.
Neville,
Hold tight. We're going to get you out off there. Have an idea. Got to get some adult help. Give us a few days. If you haven't heard from us in a week, owl.
Harry.
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Three days later, Neville was once again working in the greenhouse, 'I know Harry said to hold tight, but I sure wish I knew what was going on.'
A house elf popped into the greenhouse, "Master Neville, your grandmother wishes to see you in her study."
"Thank you, Crocus. Let her know I'll be in as soon as I get cleaned up."
About twenty minutes later, Neville was catching his breath outside his grandmother's study. He heard voices inside, and wondered who would be talking to his grandmother about him, since it had never happened before. 'The only times I get invited in here are when family is here. These voices I don't quite recognize, though one sounds familiar,' Neville thought.
"Mrs. Longbottom, I'm sure you've noticed what a bright student Neville is. We are wondering if we can foster him for the rest of summer at a internship for exceptionally bright students. It's been years since our last Herbology student was there and we are looking forward to having your grandson with us," came a male voice from inside the study.
"Your offer is very generous, but I'm afraid Neville has family obligations during his summers that he cannot just let slide."
"Ah, most of our interns take a few days leave sometime in the middle of the course. Neville can tell us when he needs to leave and we can make arrangements for him to meet you anywhere," said a female voice with some authority. "We also let them have the weekends to do what they wish, including visit family. Some of our interns choose to visit places within the magical realm where there specific branch of magic is used. For Neville those places can include: The Conservatory of Rare and Unidentified Plants and St. Mungo's Hospital."
"Very well then," said Mrs. Longbottom, "As long as he can visit me sometimes and meet his family obligations, I have no problem with this arrangement."
Neville stifled a scream, 'This is Harry's plan. I know it.' When Neville recovered his composure he rapped on the study door.
"Enter," called his grandmother. As Neville entered he saw three visitors, two adults and one teenager. The man looked familiar and if Neville looked close enough, he saw a few grey hairs that reminded him of Professor Lupin. The woman looked normal except for the bright purple hair, when she noticed Neville looking at it she said with a giggle, "One of the potion students decided to play a trick on me."
The teen was female and probably a bit older then Neville. She hadn't said anything yet and was seemingly content to stay out of the way.
"Neville, these people are from the Magical Advancement Program, they would like you to be one of their interns for the summer, so that you may continue to advance in Herbology. Are you interested in going with them?" his grandmother asked.
"Yes, I am, Gran. What do I need?"
"You'll need everything you need for school, because this will last until the end of August and we are used to taking kids back to their schools pick up locations. We do this for all the European Wizarding Schools, too," said the man. "Anne will help you pack, she recently turned seventeen and this will be her last year with us. She has attended for the last three years."
"My wand was broken in an accident and we haven't replaced it yet. Will I need one?"
"Your grandmother informed us of that issue and we will be happy to take you to Diagon Alley to replace your wand, this afternoon."
Neville led Anne up the stairs to his room where she quickly cast a packing spell and had all of his things packed in a jiffy. She still hadn't spoken, and Neville felt the urge to ask her a question, "What are you studying, Anne?"
"Defense, Potions, Arithmancy, Runes, Transfiguration, and Magical Creatures," the young women said in a rush.
"All of that? How do you do it all?"
"A little at a time, I switch when I get bored or stuck so that I can rest that part of my brain until it can function again," Anne says as she puts a lightening charm on the trunk and picks up one end and motions for Neville to pick up the other.
They go back downstairs and Neville's Grandmother remarks, "That was a fast packing job, Anne."
"Thank you, Ma'am. But I forgot to put a shrinking charm on upstairs, I'll just do it here," and with that Anne shrinks Neville's trunk and hands it back to him.
Mrs. Longbottom stands up and hugs Neville, "Bye, Neville, don't forget to write and visit me. Thank you for taking such good care of my greenhouse."
"Bye Gran, I'll write and you're welcome," Neville responds.
Anne took the woman's hand and the man held out his hand to Neville. They then disappeared from the Longbottoms home and reappeared in back of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Now, for the proper introductions," said the man to Neville, as he flicked his wand and his disguised disappeared and a privacy bubble appeared around them.
"Professor Lupin," Neville exclaimed, "I thought it was you."
"Did you?" Remus asked, surprised. "I'm glad you can see through disguises so easily. That will come in handy. These two ladies are Nymphadora Tonks. Ow!" Remus rubbed the back of his head, "best call her Tonks, and Odila Black, daughter of Sirius and a half sister to Harry. Long story, have Odila tell you later."
"What are we going to do now?" Neville asked.
"Some shopping, of course," said Tonks.
"And meet Harry," said Odila.
"Now, Neville," Remus started, "We all have code names, Odila is Anne, I'm Uncle Joe, Harry is Spike, and Tonks is Sally. Anne has an idea for your code name, but if you don't like it, we can change it."
"What is it?" Neville asked.
"Well, when Spike and I first needed code names, I made reference to having a brother by the name of Zach. Spike and I want you to be our brother, what do you think?" asked Odila.
Neville thought for a moment, "Sounds great, I like it."
"Then Zach, it is," said Remus.
With that, Remus dropped the privacy spell and they set off into Diagon Alley. Their first stop was Madam Malkin's. As Anne put it "Not one of us can afford not to have a decent set of work out clothes, not to mention comfortable dress robes."
After they had stopped by Gringotts and picked up Spike, it was finally time to visit Ollivander's wand shop.
"Well, Neville Longbottom, I've been expecting you for five years now," whispered Mr. Ollivander as they stepped into the shop, "Why didn't you come before your first year?"
Neville gulped, "I had my father's wand, sir," he pulled the snapped wand from the pocket of his robe.
"You are not your father. His wand was not meant for you. Let us find you your own wand," and with that, Mr. Ollivander started pulling boxes from the shelves and having Neville try them.
Fifteen minutes later, Ollivander's store looked worse then it had when Harry had tried to find his wand, Ollivander was running out of curses, and Neville looked extremely sad.
Ollivander started shaking his head. "I felt it, I knew it," he mumbled.
"What?" asked Neville.
"I should have taken you into the back, immediately. Now, we've wasted so much time out here."
"There's more in the back?" asked Tonks.
"There's a back?" queried Remus.
"Of course, I have a back room. I'm surprised you have not been in it. I was sure James Potter would have told his friends where he had gotten his second wand."
"James did mention that he wanted to tell Sirius and I something about your shop, but it was right before Harry was born and I think James may have forgotten about it in the excitement," Remus said, in defense of his friend.
"Ah, then follow me, and I'll see what I can do for each of you. As I see it you all need repairs to your current wands," Ollivander said as he led them into the back room.
As they walk in through the door there were five shelves straight ahead full of boxes and marked with different core ingredients. On either side there were shelves to the ceiling, full of different wands. There was a large work table in the center of the room. Two finished wands sat on the table, near them were three unfinished wands. The room was dim, lit only by a few candles on the center table, illuminating the sawdust in the air. An enchanted lathe sat on top of the table between the wands, there was a single wand rotating on it.
As Remus looked around he noticed that some of the boxes were levitating slightly above their shelves. He wandered over to one shelve and hesitated, looking to Ollivander for permission to touch.
"I believe that you'll find this is the wand you are looking for," Ollivander said in a cryptic tone.
Remus cautiously plucked the box from the air, as soon as his fingers closed around the delicate wood he felt the magical surge flow through him. He noticed the length of the box, 12 ½ inches precisely. He lifted the tiny latch and jerked his hand away as he felt the wand in his wrist holster disappear. He looked immediately to Ollivander and found his former wand in the maker's hand. He hesitated a second before picking the wand up from it's box and felt the all too familiar power of the moon, and quickly refocused his attention to the less fear inflicting lure of the dragon heartstring. He was not surprised to find the wand instantly respond to him, hurling red sparks from its tip and signifying that the wand was indeed his.
"Ah yes, you've found your true wand," Ollivander observed, then he turned to Neville. "Your father's wand, if you please?"
Neville reverently handed the broken pieces to the aging wandmaster.
Ollivander took the pieces and strode across the room to a shelf, pulling down a strange device that no one else in the room could identify. After fiddling with the device for a moment he placed the shattered wand into the device and fiddled some more. There was a sharp sound from the device and Neville realized that the wand was being destroyed. No, not destroyed... transformed. With a quick flick of his wrist Ollivander pulled at a lever on the contraption and a woody shadow slipped free, he then took out his own wand and prodded the shadowy essence over to rest above one of the wands on the table. With a few muttered words the shadow descended, disappearing into the unfinished wand on the workbench. He then walked to yet another shelve and pulled down two more boxes containing wand cores, one was clearly marked as containing Griffin heartstrings, the other held Hippogriff feathers. He repeated the same process with the additional cores, as the spell finished the wand glowed a brilliant orange, showing that the wand was at last complete.
Neville reached for the wand, as his fingers caressed the smooth obsidian hilt, red sparks, similar to the ones from Remus' wand, showered from the tip.
"Now listen to me," Ollivander said seriously. Neville (as well as everyone else in the room) gave their full attention to the wandmaster. "Your particular wand is very peculiar. Were you to look thoroughly through this store you'd find that most of my wands are made from common woods -the finest of their kind to be sure but common just the same. Your wand deviates from the norm in this respect," Ollivander paused for dramatic affect before continuing, "Your wand is ten inches of refined Devil's Snare."
"Devil's Snare?" Neville repeated, his confusion evident in his tone. "But Devil's Snare couldn't withstand the light, how will I use it?"
"I've put an incantation on the wood," Ollivander replied confidently. "This is the first of its kind, but I believe you'll find that it will withstand the elements as well as any other wand made from a more familiar source. Perhaps even better."
Ollivander continued talking, but Harry had lost interest. He quietly wandered about the small work room, examining each of the shelves with the same curious interest that had gotten him in and out of trouble so many times. He stopped in front of one of the shelves, his interest heightening as he noticed that hovering above the topmost shelve were several objects that had a suspicious resemblance to snake fangs.
By this time Ollivander had finished instructing Neville on the intricacies of his wand and had noticed that Harry had wandered away from the group. Without a word to the others he crossed the room to where Harry stood eying the floating objects and place a careworn hand on the young man's shoulder.
"I see you've noticed one of the more useful quirks of my workspace," The old man said with a gentle smile. "It's strange that these particular materials would react to you so."
"They look familiar," Harry muttered. "They're Basilisk fangs aren't they?"
Ollivander's eyebrows reached for his hairline and his mouth dropped just a bit before he regained his composure and fixed his expression back to its normal pose of passive curiosity.
"Yes they are indeed," he drew his words out, making them ask a question in and of themselves.
"In my second year at school I faced a Basilisk," Harry explained offhandedly. "Their teeth aren't some you'd quickly forget."
"Indeed," Ollivander replied, pushing past the boy to reach at the fangs. He mumbled something about "Dumbledore getting too serious about hands-on experience for his own good," while he carefully pulled them down.
"Can you use Basilisk fang as a wand core?" Harry asked, wondering if that was why the fangs were responding to him so.
"Certainly, certainly," Ollivander muttered, then more clearly he elaborated. "It is rare however, that they are more of a help than a hindrance."
Harry looked a little disappointed at this information; Ollivander took careful note of Harry's sudden change of mood and gave it great thought before he spoke again.
"Your wand has failed you recently hasn't it?"
"Yes," Harry replied immediately. Then more darkly he told the grim tale, "It failed me in the graveyard. When Voldemort-
"Do not," Ollivander cut him off, "mention his name in my establishment. There is no need to create a beacon for him to follow."
Harry swallowed, and left his story at that. Ollivander eyed him shrewdly for a long minute before requesting Harry's wand and then went striding off with the fangs and the wand, back to the same contraption he'd used with Neville's wand.
"Wait!" Harry stopped him before he could change the wand. "I want you to use the Basilisk fang for the core."
Ollivander continued fiddling for a moment, before adding the fang into the device. He was about to turn the strange nobs but was stopped by a blur of snowy white feathers swooping past him as an owl touched down on the table.
"Confounded- " squawked Ollivander, he snatched away the machine. Unfortunately the damage had been done. It appeared that the owl had brushed past it upon landing, and cut herself. Not badly, but enough that a bit of blood and feathers had smeared across the machine, and apparently a bit of each had gotten inside of it. Ollivander was about to yell and curse some more but then simply finished by whispering softly: "Owls."
"Hedwig!" Harry crowed with delight as he looked at his longtime pet and friend.
Ollivander ignored him, and the others, and quickly went to fidgeting about his work. He quickly turned the nobs and listened to the familiar grinding as the wand was transformed into something he could use. A moment later he pulled the lever and the shadow of the essence slipped out once more floating serenely over the table before Ollivander prodded it into another unfinished stick, this one was eleven and one half inches long and had been bored from holly.
Harry approached the table, while Ollivander scrutinized him a little more, though the boy took no notice, his attention was focused entirely on his owl.
"Hullo girl," Harry murmured, smoothing the feathers on her neck before removing the burden of the letter she carried.
While everyone's attention focused on the arrival of Hedwig, Ollivander had managed to notice that as Harry passed the shelves, another ingredient had made itself noticeable. Ollivander crossed discreetly to the shelve, pulling the floating vial away from it's magical confines.
"Curious, very, very curious," Ollivander mumbled before placing a portion of its contents into his machine and once more working his brand of magic.
"Who's it from Harry?" Odila asked, as her brother tore at the newly arrived letter.
"Hermione," Harry replied with a grin. "She wasn't exactly overcome with delight at my attention to detail in my last letter."
"Ha, details schmeetails," Odila retorted offhandedly before turning her focus back to Ollivander who had apparently completed his latest masterpiece.
The aging wandmaster gave Harry an impatient prod with the hand that wasn't cradling the new wand. As soon as Harry turned he was presented with his new tool.
"It looks like my old one," he said rather stupidly, because that was all he could think to say.
"Well of course it does," Ollivander replied, with a hint of exasperation "You see that it's made of the same wood as your old one, and the length is the same. The only difference is the cores. You've added the Basilisk fang to the original phoenix feather, as well as some of your owl's blood and feathers. And the last ingredient, kind of hit me upside the head as I was finishing this. It's a Thestral wing, I imagine you know why that specific ingredient was so insistent about being a part of your wand."
"Yes, I do," Harry replied, not bothering to explain.
"Harry, the letter," Odila said insistently, "Just how specific, or I suppose in your case, unspecific were you?"
"Well," Harry began sheepishly. "I just said-
"Oh my!" Odila gasped as she felt something slide over her foot. She hadn't been paying attention to anything but her brother, so she was startled to look down and find that a large boa had entered the room and made itself comfortable on her feet.
That's my foot you're sitting on. Odila hissed at the red snake.
Indeed, replied the snake. And it's quite comfortable, thank you.
Harry twitched at the familiar, yet strange sound of parseltongue and jerked his head in the general direction of the language and at last saw the snake on his sister's foot.
With another grin he joined the conversation.
She may not enjoy you using her for a footstool as it were, but I wouldn't mind.
The snake reared its head in serpentine surprise and said, It isn't often that I find two who can converse with me. In fact, I don't believe it has ever happened before.
I suppose you're in for a treat then Odila replied as dryly as the language allowed her too.
While we're here, is there anything you'd like to mention to your master? Harry cut in, trying to be just a bit more helpful than his sister.
Sssertainly, the Snake said. But first...I see that you are building a family. Do you have room for a slithering serpent such as myself?
The final call on that would be up to Odila but I believe that can be arranged.
Whatever Odila conceded. So Harry turned to Ollivander..
"It would seem that your friend is ready for a change of scenery."
Ollivander appeared confused, and now it wasn't just because of the revelation of two parsletongues in his presence.
"Your snake wants to come with us," Odila added bluntly.
"Ah," Ollivander said. He didn't sound surprised. In fact, it was almost as if he were expecting it. "Well, obviously two parsletongues could offer him a better home than an aging wandmaker who can hardly remember when he needs to be fed."
Harry and Odila shared a look, both were surprised that he was willing to part with his pet so easily. But then again, it was Ollivander, he was as unpredictable as weather in Utah.
"Alright then," Harry said.
You have a name I suppose? Odila asked the snake.
Naturally. Master Ollivander has always referred to me as Xenith, but I was born Zamiriah.
And you prefer?
The snake appeared to contemplate this for a long moment before replying:
Zamiriah.
"Zamiriah it is then," Harry said, nodding to their new friend.
The snake, much to Odila's relief, finally slid from his perch on her feet and made is way to Harry. He lifted his crimson tail and made a motion that obviously meant he wanted Harry to stoop over, the boy did so, and Zamiriah promptly reared his body and slithered up his arm, settling around his neck.
Comfortable?
Quite.
Harry straightened and turned to the rest of the group. He shot a look to his sister who nodded to Remus and Neville. They paid for their wands. Odila paused before handing Ollivander her fistful of money.
"Before we leave we'd like the charms for projecting our magic removed."
Ollivander only gave her a confused expression in return.
"We need to be able to practice without the school or the Ministry catching on," Odila explained in a low and almost dangerous tone.
"That kind of arrangement is not inexpensive -even for the Boy Who Lived, his sister and his friends," Ollivander said finally after considering her request for a moment.
Odila's only response was to raise her eyebrows as if to say 'name your price'.
"One thousand galleons a piece," Ollivander announced definitively.
"Done," Harry said. "The money will be transferred into your vault at Gringotts upon the completion of my friends Ron, Ginny, Luna, and Hermione's wands."
"Pleasure doing business with you Mister Potter," Ollivander said cheerfully as he lead them to the door at the front of the store. "Miss Black, Mister Longbottom, Master Lupin."
At that they walked through the door, each pocketing (or holstering ) their wands as they stepped out into the warm sun.
"Well as much fun as that was," Lupin began. "I think we all deserve a sundae at Florean Fortescue's."
The teenagers all voiced their agreement, so they headed in the direction of the ice cream parlor, chatting about their new wands and pet as they walked.
They reached the crossing that would either take them back to the leaky caldron or down restaurant row, where the ice cream awaited. They hung a left at the corner but stopped short as a shower of sparks exploded next to Harry's head.
"Duck!" Lupin hollered as another stray spell came their way. The group scattered, ducking behind anything that would provide cover while they pulled their wands out.
As soon as Harry and Odila were armed they were up and running towards the trouble instead of away from it.
"No better way to break in a new wand, eh?" Neville stuttered nervously, sharing a glance with Remus and Tonks before they all started off after Harry and Odila.
The street had erupted into chaos, people were scrambling into and out of, stores. There was a lot of screaming as spells were shot every which way, some of them straying and chipping at buildings, others caught the frantic citizens felling them in their tracks. At the center of it all, tall, black cone hats craned over the crowds. Death Eaters.
Harry let out a rather animalistic growl as he rushed to the center of attention, roaring a stupefying spell as he ran. Unfortunately it flew wide and struck a sign, singing the paint. Harry stared dumbstruck at his wand, he'd never had such trouble with a stupefying spell before. And then before his eyes the wood began to shift, similar to they way he'd watched his own skin ripple and change when he'd drank a polyjuice potion in his second year at school. In his hand the wood grew warm, shifting and elongating as if was turning to putty and then hard again. Before his eyes the wand was changing shape, growing thicker and longer until it was nearly as tall as he was and fit comfortably in his loosely closed fist. The wand had finished growing, but the wood hadn't stopped changing. At the top and bottom of the staff indents appeared, growing deeper and taking shape. Also at the bottom a faint silvery glimmer shone through the woodexpanding and folding. It was a tag, Harry realized, like the dog tags he knew Muggle soldiers wore.
Unfortunately he didn't have time to contemplate the changes to his wand however. His reckless abandon had put him right in the thick of things, he'd managed to catch the Death Eaters. There were several making their way toward him. He didn't have time to think he simply belted out the first spell that came to his mind, a leg locking curse. His eyes grew moon-sized as two of them hit the ground with the same spell. It seemed to momentarily stun the third as well. Once again Harry found himself staring at his wand in awe but he recovered quickly and fired off three more stunning spells, hitting two men while the third went wild.
Out of immediate danger, Harry spared a glance in Odila's direction, finding that she was holding her own against another Death Eater. Tonks, Lupin and Neville were all occupied with two more, who were, surprisingly enough, running away from the battle instead of moving it on.
By this time, men dressed in Ministry robes were apparating into the street, joining the ruckus. They cut off the fleeing Death Eaters, raising their wands to curse the black-robed terrorists. But not quickly enough one was able to disapparate and the spell flew through the space where he'd been standing hitting an unfortunate old witch square in the stomach. Neville looked from the witch to empty space where the Death Eater had stood. Anger surged through him and he raised his wand.
"Flippendo!" He bellowed. The last remaining Death Eater, who was in the process of disapparating, was ripped from his feet. He soared forty feet above the crowds screaming and squirming, his robes rippling and his hat and mask fell away. As he reached his peak he was flipped so that his head faced the pavement. For a moment, the crowds were silent, everyone was still, no one dared to utter a breath as they anxiously awaited the result of the spell. After a split second that seemed to last an eternity the terrified terrorist began to fall at last, gaining speed as he neared the pavement. Faster and faster until, with a sickening squish that echoed down the street, he met his stop. The crumpled body twitched at the feet of the Ministry Agents' before stilling as blood and bodily fluids puddled around him.
Neville watched in horror as the agents cautiously rolled the man to face upward, revealing not his unmasked identity, but his horribly mutilated neck and head. It was hard to tell beneath the gore that a face had been there at all. He looked down at his wand, suddenly terrified of his own power. He'd never killed anyone before. He dared to glance back up at the corpse fifty feet ahead of him and promptly lost the contents of his stomach.