Embracing His True Self

Chapter 32

Neville sat ensconced in his bed, the four poster curtains drawn around him his wand lit allowing him to see the missive he'd received from Harry just a few minutes ago. He had been unable to sleep, and had gotten the fright of his life when Dobby the House-elf appeared on his bed, he would deny that he had squealed like a little girl when he felt his bed suddenly dipping. Thankfully he had room to deny it, nobody had heard, Dobby had cast a silencing spell around his bed.

Nev,

I'm sorry we didn't get to talk before I left Hogwarts; it was a spur of the moment decision.

I just couldn't take anymore of the constant debasement from Umbridge, especially with the teachers doing nothing.

They knew Neville, they knew what she was doing all along, I even tried going to McGonagall, but she interrupted me at every turn. How can I trust them when they would do such a thing? Eleven year old kids were being tortured; I don't know how many I saw crying in pain after detention with her…I felt very useless.

I am also tired of everyone else and their backstabbing ways, I thought I could last the year out but I was wrong.

I won't be returning to Hogwarts, I'll take my N.E.W.T's independently.

Don't worry about me, where I am, I am safe, safer than I was at Hogwarts and that is indisputable.

Nev, don't let anyone push you into anything you don't want, no matter who they are, not even Dumbledore.

A piece of advice? No one can make you feel inferior without your consent, stop believing in what others tell you, and live your life. You want to work in botany then do it, truthfully there is no other career more suited to you. Don't let the war, your parents belief's, your Grans or Dumbledore's influence you. You are your own man, and will have to live with the decisions you make, they won't.

You are a good friend, I hope regardless of the fact I'm not at Hogwarts that you and I will remain friends. I wish you and Luna all the luck in the world.

Be safe,

Harry,

The hurt Neville hadn't been aware off that Harry had left without saying anything receded; he couldn't really blame him for a spur of the moment reaction. Especially if it was true what Harry had written, which he didn't doubt, in five years he'd never heard Harry caught out in a lie, and his shy nature made him invisible to most people, they forgot he was there, and he had heard it all, the twofaced nature to people.

In fact he had heard nothing but hypocrisy from his own roommates for hours before they'd finally actually gone to sleep! Going on about how awesome Harry's Quidditch moves were, how professional players could learn a thing or two. Even managing to get on the topic of Harry and the dragon he'd faced during the tri-wizard tournament. How they wished they had done what he had only earlier, they seemed to forget especially Seamus how much of a dickhead he'd been to Harry since the school started back up.

Neville couldn't say he was surprised by Harry's decision not to return, he had seen how hard being at Hogwarts had been on his friend. He couldn't believe McGonagall and Dumbledore had known about the blood quill, those children were probably traumatised by what happened. How could they ever trust a teacher again after what had happened? After what had been revealed?

He frowned at the line about making his own choices; he couldn't help but get a sense of foreboding at that line. It was almost like Harry knew something he didn't and was trying to warn him. It was very specific about Dumbledore as well, the question was why? What would Dumbledore ever want with him? Shaking it off, refusing to think on it, although the feeling inside refused to fade, as a ball of anxiety flared within him.

It was something he didn't want anyone to see either, since Dobby had instructed him to burn after reading. The house-elf had looked eerily happy saying he had another errand to run before he left too saying something like 'here toady'. There wasn't even anything really bad written in it, did he truly distrust everyone that much? Maybe he just didn't want the papers to find out he wasn't going to return to Hogwarts? Although really, he had made his point very clear, but he had no doubt everyone thought he'd be back. Sighing softly, he climbed out of bed, sliding his slippers on, before making a quick dash towards the closest toilet, making a quick use of the facilities to do his night time ablutions. After he dried his hands he placed the letter in the sink and cast a burning spell, watching the parchment become naught but ash. Once it was done, he murmured the 'Evanesco' spell to get rid of the remains still perturbed by Harry's insistence of burning the letter.

Shivering at the cold, he quickly backtracked to the dorm room, jumping into his bed, he cuddled into the warmth of his mattress before toeing his slippers off and using his foot to slid them along until they landed with two dull thuds on the floor. For the first time that night Neville actually relaxed enough to sleep, he'd been too worried before. His face flushed red when he remembered the nickname Dobby had given him. 'Master Harry's Nevvy' other than Harry then later Luna were the only ones who had cared enough to give him one. He'd always been just Neville, even as a young boy, but until he came to Hogwarts he had never interacted with another child before. He'd grown up in seclusion with his Gran, tutored in everything he needed to know. He didn't know what his parents had called him; his Gran never answered any of his questions about them.

Sleep came pretty soon afterwards for the relieved Longbottom.

Meanwhile someone who had been causing a lot of problems for Harry was going to find herself in a predicament she wasn't going to get out of.

Wide bug eyes which had held nothing but panic in them as she let the letter slip through her fingers. Cornelius had all but told her that she was on her own, he was really angry about the forged documents allowing her to use the blood quill on the brats. The parents had accosted the Minister just half an hour after the despicable Potter brat had revealed all in the Great Hall, which made him question everything and uncover some of the documents she'd signed for him. He was the Minister of magic, she knew him best, and he was so busy, signing everything was tiresome so she'd merely helped him along.

"That brat!" Umbridge hissed, steaming like a bull she could curse the boy for ruining everything. The thought of the Auror's coming to arrest her or interview the students made her lurch from her pink seat and began flicking her tiny wand, as she began to pack all her possessions, she had to get to the Ministry and somehow make this mess go away. She had a few people she could blackmail, but Bones wasn't one of them, so she had to make sure the Law Enforcement Officer didn't get her hands on any of the paperwork.

The letter she'd received from Cornelius was still lying on the floor, as her trunk and bag sailed through the room neatly packed together to come to a stop in the middle of the classroom everything packed up including her pink kitten plates that had adorned her wall. Umbridge paused as she stared at her possessions, feeling conflicted, and what if Cornelius had her arrested the moment she showed up? She knew he would throw her under the bus, he had warned her of that in the letter without outright saying it. The urge to run was strong, but she wasn't one for giving up, but she was one to put her survival first and foremost.

Fortunately…or perhaps unfortunately for her the decision was quite quickly taken from her.

Umbridge jumped in startlement when the sound of a popping sounded the room; panting a little she quickly found the source of the disturbance, a House-elf. "I did not call you, leave!" she snapped at the thing, her lip curled in repugnance, not even House-elves were exempt from her disgust at all creatures. She straightened up puffing herself out when she noticed the vindictive twinkle in its eye. It was a Hogwarts House-elf; she'd seen it while inspecting the kitchens.

A blast left its hands causing her to shriek and dive out of the way, her wand slipping in the process. When she realised it had fallen on the floor, she crawled on her hands and knees to get to it in a hurry scrambling blindly, the cold stone floor biting into her knees and legs, causing her to cry out in pain. Triumph shot through her as she clutched her chubby hand around her wand, for all of a few seconds, before she was hit with another blast, causing her to skid along the classroom floor, and thump into the wall, her head smashing against the table, her eyes filled with tears and pain coursed through her body, through the tears she could see that the House-elf had let loose another beam in her direction. When it hit her unconsciousness quickly claimed her, and she knew no more.

Dobby stared grimly at the witch; he knew what she'd been doing to Master Harry and the other students at Hogwarts. Master Harry had told him, so he took vindictive satisfaction seeing her in pain. Nobody hurt his Harry Potter! His kind Master had saved him from the evil Malfoy's who hurt him, who constantly made him hurt himself. His existence hadn't been a good one, while he had liked being free, he had longed to have a wizard of his own to serve, a wizard named Harry Potter, and it had finally happened. He wasn't going to let him down.

Clicking his fingers, Umbridge's wand was in his hand, another click later and the luggage was gone, rushing over to the unconscious witch as quickly as his little legs could carry him, he hooked his gnarly fingers around her hideous pink cardigan and both of them were gone in an instant. Leaving only the open letter the Minister had sent in the now empty room.

Harry leaned against the wall, observing the Dursley's through the bars, green eyes gleaming with satisfaction, feeling vindicated after everything they had done to him. They had made his childhood unbearable, he'd had nothing to make it bearable, and it's probably why he was the way he was now. Vernon and Dudley had lost so much weight in seven months, honestly they were unrecognizable, he'd never in his life seen them anything other than gluttonous fat bastards. They'd long ago stopped pleading and begging to be let go, even longer since they'd demanded anything from him. He wasn't sure they would survive nine more years of this, which was what he had decided on in a spur of the moment, to repay them for every day he'd lived in misery, cold, fear and hunger. If they died before it then fine, it was just the way of it, either way he at least he got the last laugh.

"Told you," Barty said smugly, showing off his handiwork like a proud toddler.

Harry threw Barty a sardonic smirk, soon everyone who had hurt him would have paid for it with their freedom an inevitably their lives. He had no desire to torture them, which was unusual, perhaps he did feel a little sorry for them…but he did have a more urgent desire to see that Umbridge paid the price of torturing him.

"Now that you're back, does that mean you are joining our cause? Our side?" Barty asked, unusually serious.

"I don't know," Harry said honestly, his gaze vacant as he thought that question through. "What you've done in the past is horrendous, and that doesn't include the raids, it's too reminiscent on what Grindelwald did, I know unlike you, what the Muggles are capable of, magic should never be revealed to them,"

Barty scoffed not believing Harry the slightest.

"Even in the past Ministers have agreed, they signed laws preventing wizards and witches from joining the world wars, the exposure of magic was just too risky. A single bomb can cause devastating affects; four hundred yards can be exploded with one bomb killing thousands of people. They have nuclear weapons, if they used them…nothing will survive, the radiation poisoning will kill everything, plants, animals and people, not even we would be immune to it. The entire planet would be annihilated."

"And you think they should be left alone with stuff like that?" Barty choked out, he understood radiation poisoning, but to think the Muggles had something that would kill every living thing on the planet?

Harry shrugged, "We have time turners, if anything happened we could go back in time to stop it, only if it's just the one place that's the source of the disturbance, but if everyone saw magic…inevitably it would be our last war on the planet." sliding from the wall to stand on his feet, instead of leaning against the wall. He supposed he really should answer Barty instead of being vague. "We are too few to take on everyone. Although it doesn't look like they've started back up but that might be because Voldemort doesn't want people to know he's returned yet."

"The Dark Lord didn't start up the raids," Barty admitted, watching those green eyes gleam with curiosity. He didn't ask, but it was obvious he wanted to know more. "The first time it ever started it was one of our own, a pureblood who had been left in the hands of a Muggle orphanage and then sent to someone's home, he wasn't adopted, I can't remember what they called it actually."

"Foster care," Harry answered, nodding briefly.

"That might be it," Barty said, "He was abused for years, he kept it quiet the idiot," Barty's hands clenched at the injustice of it. "When we found out we made everyone pay, the neighbours for not doing something about it and the family for their actions."

"What happened to him?" Harry asked.

"He was taken in by the Lestranges; he joined the Dark Lord after graduating from Hogwarts. He never speaks about his time there, never gives a reason as to why he kept quiet for three years after learning about magic." Barty told him, shivering a little in the cold; the lower dungeons were always freezing.

Harry arched an eyebrow, for someone so smart that was a stupid thing to say. It wasn't easy coming out and saying that you'd been abused any given day for a child, let alone one who had a Muggle family and they were a witch or a wizard. That had probably worked in Dumbledore's favour, one he knew what the magical world thought of him, he hadn't been quite inclined to tell anyone that he was abused. He had told Dumbledore, and asked to remain behind at Hogwarts for all the good it had done him, he'd been made to feel like a liar, while he said all families have their 'troubles' as if what he'd experienced was nothing. He would have felt deeply betrayed if he had trusted the old man, but the life he'd led…he had learned from a young age never to trust anyone.

Their conversation was forgotten for the moment, as a pop indicated that a House-elf had teleported into the cells, and since there was only one person due to come in, they didn't need to hear her voice or see her to know who it was. Another click of Dobby's fingers and he was outside the cell, with a load of luggage beside him.

"You packed up her belongings?" Harry asked, arching an eyebrow amused.

"No, Master Harry, she was already packed," Dobby explained, swaying back and forth on the tip of his toes, still reeling in utter happiness and contentment. So much so that he wasn't able to express it, and wasn't being his usual bubbly self. Then again his Master Harry always tried to keep him calm, he liked it that way and Dobby was determined to be the best House-elf ever, even if he was in the same place as the Dark Lord wizard. "If the blood quill isn't there, Dobby will go right back." he promised.

"It doesn't matter if it's not there, I can make one," Harry said flippantly, and he'd make it a lot worse than the one she'd created of that he was sure. He was sure between Barty, Voldemort and himself one could be made. They were all extremely powerful and smart after all.

"What are you planning?" Barty asked, peering into the cell, "Wait a minute, I recognize her," the pink clothing was unmistakable.

"Was she at your trial?" Harry asked moving forward so he could look in as well. She was unconscious still, and he'd leave her to come around on her own, he wanted her to be utterly terrified before he made his appearance. Perhaps if he was lucky he could convince Voldemort to put glamours on that made him look like his old self so she can know her fate right away. A grin worked its way onto his face, he was sure Voldemort would do it, he was sadistic he loved scaring the shit out of people.

"No, I just knew her from the Ministry; towards the end when my mother was really sick and he was doing overtime constantly I'd go to him and beg him to be home with her. My mother loved him despite the fact he neglected her all her life," Barty admitted, his white knuckle grip on the cell door his only show of anger. "She deserved better." he was too out of it to protest when his mother and father appeared in Azkaban, when he found out he had internal raged in fury, unable to express it with the Imperius curse on him. He had thought for a brief time when Jorkins appeared that he'd be freed but no, HE had come and wiped her memory of the incident.

"A lot of people did and do," Harry replied, "She had you, that had to count for something." feeling sympathy for Barty.

Barty snorted derisively, "I broke her heart, she wasn't even at the trial and I am grateful for that," he had been in the presence of Dementors for weeks before his trial, he'd been half mad that day, and every day since until he got the potion. He owed his Lord everything for freeing him and seeing that he was healed. He hadn't cared for many people, his mother and the Dark Lord had been exceptions. Although he'd never admit it he had grown rather fond of Harry. He was just the right amount of crazy as him, with admittedly better handle on himself, and fun to be around. "Sorry," he muttered after a few seconds realizing who he was talking to.

"For what?" Harry asked gazing at Barty in confusion, wondering what was going through his head.

"It can't be easy listening to someone going on when you never knew yours," Barty admitted.

Harry snorted, "It's hard to miss something you never had, and they chose to join Dumbledore, get involved in a war instead of staying out of it and raising me. I know they were probably convinced they were making a better world for me, but what good is that better world if they didn't survive? It's meaningless to speculate anyway there's no point to dwelling on the past." some may think he was being harsh and unfair on his parents, but honestly, he loved the idea of them, more than he could scrounge up any real feelings for them. He knew next to nothing about them, his mother was pretty with green eyes he looked exactly like his father that was it. Ollivander had given him more information for Merlin's sake than the people claiming to know them.

"Point," Barty conceded with a nod, "So, what do you plan to do to her?" getting back on topic, quite uncomfortable with the topic that had been brought up. He only had himself to blame, he had spoken of it first. Then again he didn't really have anyone else to talk to; most of the others were still healing and getting back into shape. That and he honestly wouldn't want to have this kind of conversation with them, not that they'd understand. The Lestrange parents had been much like his father; House-elves had practically raised them until they were old enough to be educated. Same with Bellatrix's parents, although it wasn't all their fault, Bellatrix had always had a screw loose.

"You'll see," Harry stated eerily. "So will she," with that Harry levitated her belongings, which would be burnt just as soon as he found her damn quill, if he didn't then he'd make a new one. He wouldn't be surprised if she'd already gotten rid of all the evidence. That could wait, no doubt Dumbledore had already written to Sirius and Remus, and he didn't want them crawling back into his hold because he was 'missing' he wanted to distance the two of them from Dumbledore and hope he could get them to become neutral.

"I'm heading out," Harry said, and with that he began to make his way out of the cells, Barty followed him, having no desire to remain there on his own there was just only so much fun to be had. They didn't run into any Death Eaters on the way to his rooms and that did pique his curiosity but he never asked for clarification. "If you come in, stay out the way, and keep quiet,"

Barty stared utterly bewildered, wondering what on earth Harry was talking about. Staying in the doorway, as Harry went into his bedroom, digging through his stuff before coming out with a mirror? He was about to enter the room and ask Harry what was going on when he spoke his godfathers name and he saw a small blue glow emanating from the mirror. Arching an eyebrow, deducing that it was no usual mirror. A million questions wanted to burst through his tightly pursed lips.

"Harry!" Sirius shouted into the mirror, his eyes filled with relief, ten years sliding from his face in mere moments. "Where are you? I'm coming to get you."

"Better question would be…where are you?" Harry asked, it was obvious Sirius was outside, stone and trees and grass surrounding him. Darkness surrounded everywhere else as if he was in a dome, but it was just his wand lighting up the immediate area.

"Scotland, Culloden, it's the direction Dumbledore said you could be." Sirius told him, stopping in his walking and leaning against the tree.

Harry closed his eyes in exasperation, "Please tell me you've not crawled back to Dumbledore with your tail between your legs?" gritting his teeth just a little unable to contain his anger entirely.

"I never answered his letter," Sirius admitted sheepishly, self consciously itching the back of his head. His teeth chittering in the cold, he was on his own letting Remus get some rest before the full moon. "But I couldn't just do nothing, Remus wanted to come as well, but I convinced him to stay and get some sleep. Are you really alright? Where are you?"

"I'm fine, Sirius, none of the tracking spells you've cast have worked have they?" he pointed out knowing Sirius would have.

"Well, no," Sirius said slowly, wondering what was going on with his godson lately.

"Has Remus taken the Wolfsbane potion?" Harry asked, his tone becoming grim making Sirius stand up straighter and take notice.

"Of course he has, Harry that time he didn't take it was a mistake, he regrets it," Sirius said defending his partner.

"Do you even know what it's doing to him?" Harry asked his face impassive.

"Wha…Harry what are you talking about?" Sirius asked bewildered wondering when the conversation had gotten so grim.

"The Wolfsbane potion, do you know what it's doing to him?" Harry repeated his question, his face never once lightening up even a little.

"Alright, Harry, what is it doing to him?" Sirius asked resignedly, he wasn't going to play whatever game Harry was. He obviously felt strongly about it at any rate, although why still eluded him.

"It's killing him, slowly, if he keeps using the Wolfsbane he won't live to see his fortieth birthday," Harry stated sharply, "No matter if the Wolfsbane is properly dealt with he's still consuming something that is poisoning him, I wouldn't like to see the state of his internal organs with that stuff flowing through him. He can never gain a lot of weight can he? His liver is trying to flush it out of his body but more just keeps getting consumed. If you don't believe me, investigate other werewolves who take it…if you can find one that's alive at any rate."

Sirius paled at Harry's words, staring at Harry he knew that his godson wasn't kidding; he truly meant every word he said. He had hated potions, and didn't pay any attention to the Wolfsbane potion or its ingredients, but he knew Remus must have. He knew his partner well; he would have researched it, even looking for a way to brew it himself. If what Harry said was true (and he knew it was) then Remus knew too, he was willingly poisoning himself just to keep his mind during the full moon. The urge to go home and demand answers from his lover was strong, very, very strong. Yet the rational part of him realized that Remus could wait, his godson needed him at the moment.

"Harry, I'll take care of it," Sirius promised, giving a solemn nod, "Right now you are more important, please tell me where you are and why you decided to leave Hogwarts!" he added desperately, he wasn't going to let Harry sidetrack him.

"I can't tell you where I am, its safer that way, just trust that I know what I am doing and that I am safe," Harry told him confidently, "As to why I left Hogwarts…it's complicated. Do you know anything about Umbridge?"

"Yes," Sirius said darkly, "She's a prejudice bitch who hates creatures, she's the reason Remus can't get a job," he spat angrily.

"Did you know she was the DADA teacher this year? I'm not sure if I mentioned her," Harry stated, a little white lie, he knew he hadn't told him.

"No, but I can deduce why," Sirius sighed rolling his eyes heavenward.

"She's been using a blood quill on the students during detention, making eleven year old write out lines in their own blood. I tried to tell McGonagall but she wouldn't let me get a word in edge wise…she just kept telling me to keep my head down," Harry sighed, his tone becoming weary. "I think both McGonagall and Dumbledore knew what she was doing…and they did nothing about it. My hand is permanently scarred because of what she did. It just got too much, I handed in my written notice of leaving Hogwarts gave them a copy of my O.W.L scores and left. I loudly told the entire school about how illegal the blood quill was that she was using. Hopefully the students will write home and she will be sacked or something." drawing away any suspicion Sirius could entertain of him on Umbridge's disappearance. That's if Sirius had heard anything beyond her using a blood quill, his face had gone all red.

"Wait O.W.L scores?" Sirius blurted out, the red fading from his face, his mind still reeling, "What do you mean your O.W.L scores?"

"I took them early, a week into my fifth year, I'm taking my N.E.W.T's independently as well, and I'm never going back to Hogwarts." Harry explained softly, his lips twitching at the pride and awe on Sirius' face.

"Can we at least meet up?" Sirius asked eyes still shadowed with a little worry. "My home will be safe it's under the Fidelius, I can tell you the…"

"Stop," Harry commanded sternly, "Do not dare to tell me where you are especially not out in the open, do it when you get home…I'll visit, I promise."

Sirius relaxed happily with that announcement. "Is your hand alright?" he eventually asked, permanent scarring Harry had said. "Has it healed?"

"It's healing, I'll put something on it tonight," Harry promised. After he was finishing setting up Umbridge's torture…oh, he was going to have so much fun with her. "I'll talk to you tomorrow alright?"

"Every night?" Sirius asked, with a hopeful look on his face that he was purposefully using, he'd do anything just to know his godson was doing alright even if it meant manipulating him.

"Fine," Harry said, he had no problem with that, he gave Sirius a knowing look, he wasn't an idiot but he did decide to let Sirius think he got his own way.

"Alright," Sirius said, too busy beaming in delight to see the knowing look Harry had given him.

"Now go, stop Remus from using the Wolfsbane potion, all you need to do instead is expand a room, grow some trees and plans and stuff make it look like a forest, we're wizards we can do that you know. Maybe even use a trunk, create an entire forest inside, so if you take the Fidelius down no Muggle is going to wonder why someone has a forest in their room." Harry said, sarcasm bleeding heavily into his voice. "With you around he doesn't need much in way of controlling; wolves are pack animals after all."

"Night, Harry," Sirius said smiling happily, he was just so glad Harry was fine.

"Night," Harry replied, "Deactivate!" and with that the mirror shimmered blue again, and his own reflection replaced Sirius'.

"So, that was Black, does he know you aren't on his side anymore?" Barty said, leaning against the doorjamb.

"No, he doesn't, but I am hoping to turn him Neutral," Harry stated sharply, "Remus is already dark, he's a dark creature, he belongs here, he just wont admit it, he's fighting for a side that would see him condemned and dead rather than move a muscle to help him. Do you have any idea how bloody frustrating it is having to deal with that?" Harry scowled in exasperation.

Barty said nothing, not even to the 'he belongs here' he hadn't said 'on their side' he pondered on what would happen if Harry never made a decision. What would his Lord do then? Would he kill him? Hold out hope? Now that didn't sound like him at all, but he did desire to have Harry on his side, he was giving him a lot of liberties no other had ever received before in the past. It might continue he was looking forward to seeing it. The Dark Lord didn't mark anyone that was underage anyway; he usually waited until they were adults.

Sighing softly, Harry placed the mirror in his desk, he had long ago warded his room so nobody could get in, well except Severus, Barty and Voldemort, who he couldn't keep out even if he wanted to, it was his manor, his wards would just rip through his if he so desired it. He did hope that Voldemort would respect his privacy; he'd never had much of it - or any - in the past.

He was feeling quite exhausted, elated yes, but quite tired. He only had a few more things to do before he could get some sleep.

"Where are the Death Eaters? I mean the ones who were in Azkaban?" Harry queried,

"Other side of the manor, they're not allowed in this wing, the only reason they're allowed in his side of the building is if they're attending a meeting in the Great Hall, although some of them could be out following orders." he said nothing of those orders.

"They've recovered?" Harry asked closing his door as both of them made their way back to the library.

"Yes, largely thanks to Severus brewing the potions, and your invention," Barty explained, "They've still got a bit to go," which reminded him, he'd need to speak to his Lord, find out if the Lestranges knew about Harry being a relative, if they found out and not from their Lord it was possible they might react negatively and want to kill him out of misplaced pride and family honour, the embarrassment of having a half-blood relative.

Honestly, if they did that they wouldn't survive to see another day.

Hmm what to do next...will the Lestranges react negatively or will they get on? In stories Bellatrix is always painted as the bad one sometimes the brothers are just as bad but there are a few with them either 'misunderstood' or 'good' in the sense that they didn't do anything to the Longbottoms...I already have a plan for the Longbottoms/Neville etc... so that's not the problem :D maybe even not making them vital for the story may be a good idea or will they be told not to touch him and them be curious? Along the way getting to know him? R&R please