Embracing His True Self

Chapter 43

His conversation with Neville had been very short, he'd been quite groggy and confused, which was normal after wakening up after an attack. Very subdued when he finally had everything clicking into gear, by that he meant remembering everything that had happened. Fuck, Neville had looked broken, haunted, and Harry would have done anything to wipe it from his face. He had never seen Neville like that, sure he was shy and often avoided confrontation…but he was very brave, he'd even stood up to his friends for a cause he felt was obviously warranted. He'd just needed more confidence, and his last year at Hogwarts had produced that. He just hoped that this incident had not destroyed that progress.

Pouring the memory into the pensive, Voldemort having left it void of anything so it didn't require emptying.

For once, especially when it was concerning the Longbottom's Voldemort wasn't bored. He would admit only to himself he was intrigued on this matter. He doubted very much that it was any of his followers, he knew Harry well, he would have tried to demand their presence and a duel of honour on Longbottom's behalf. The fact he wanted to show him indicated a disbelief perhaps in what truly happened.

"Ready?" Voldemort stated, his wand hovering over the pensive, the manor locking itself down, including the door to his study to keep them safe while they were in a vulnerable position. He refused to be a sitting duck when they re-emerged from the pensive.

Harry nodded grimly only wand out at the pensive.

"Now," Voldemort demanded, and both immediately jabbed the pensive with the tip of their wands in sync, and within seconds the room was empty and a blue hue glowed within the pensive as they viewed it.

They found themselves in the drawing room, a very neat and tidy one.

OO Pensive Memory OO

Augusta was clearly perturbated by the Headmaster's presence, it was obviously not a prearranged appointment. Yet she was still very courteous, and arranged for refreshments. The House-Elf primsy had made one for Augusta just the way she liked it, and handed it over to the elderly witch. Waving the House-Elf away with a delicate wave of her hand, without so much as a word.

"What can I do for you Albus?" Augusta asked, after impatiently waiting for Albus to finish making his own cup looking very happy and comfortable.

Only Harry was able to tell just how irascible the Headmaster truly was to be there.

"I wonder when this happened…" Harry mused, there was no sign of the date anywhere, so he had absolutely no idea.

Meanwhile Neville looked as though he just wanted to sink into the seat and disappear, nerves getting the better of him. As it would of anyone who suddenly found the Headmaster of their school in their home.

"I assume you know why Frank and Alice were targeted all those years ago?" Albus begun, blue eyes solemn as he spoke of his two favourite Auror's. Neville had been a huge disappointment when compared to his powerful, loyal and extremely friendly parents.

"I do," Augusta stated curtly, still thinking of her son and daughter-in-law hurt even after all those years. To her they had been heroes, the best of the bunch graduating Hogwarts that year. What hurt the most was the fact the war had just ended, they'd stupidly thought they were safe. They'd been wrong. Everyone had been clamouring to find those responsible and see them punished, that was how popular and beloved her son and daughter-in-law had been.

Voldemort eyed Dumbledore speculatively, like a snake ready to strike, he wasn't about to tell someone the Prophecy was he? Not after keeping it a secret all this time. He would have done anything for this memory if he hadn't already retrieved it. Something Dumbledore no doubt had expected of him.

"I believe I may have made a mistake regarding who the child of that said prophecy was," Albus said calmly, as Augusta sipped on her tea the saucer held aloft as she did so.

Neville was just confused by the entire conversation. What prophecy? What boy? What did it have to do with him? So he wasn't in trouble after all? He so badly wanted to ask a lot of questions, but it was ingrained into him never to interrupt. He was expected to sit still and remain silent, children should be seen and not heard his Gran had said constantly as a child.

Augusta never once lost her composure, at least never outwardly, "Twaddle," she exclaimed lowering her cup back to it's saucer, "You're never wrong Albus, at least in terms of the actions you take." For the most part, there were some she didn't agree with but that was nothing she could chance thus did not bother herself with. She was not going to let him draw her grandson into this nonsense. It was balderdash, utterly balderdash.

"It's true," Albus admitted, body tense and eyes blazing a little at being so thoroughly condescended. "I regret to say that it is true." He wasn't sure how much it would help, but it would give the Order purpose, renewed hope until he could find Potter and get him back under control. He would help him collect the Horcruxes and then die himself to end this contemptable war. It had gone on too long in his opinion, and the longer the public refused to believe they were in danger the greater his desire to show them what was happening right under their noses.

What Tom was up to actually scared him enough to require Harry's memory of that night in order to show the Wizengamot. They had to step up and take action, every death, even accidental made him extremely cautious, was it Tom up to something or truly an accident? They were not stopping any 'attacks' because there were none, just Order meetings, looking for clues, ways to bring Tom out into the open. Have the Auror's out there actively looking for him, stopping the Death Eaters…for all he knew, Tom may have already recruited dozens upon dozens of people for his cause. Severus was still being tested constantly to ensure he was loyal, but never given anything in the way of real information. He'd have asked Severus for one of the memories if he didn't believe Severus was too important to the war process.

"This has nothing to do with my grandson," Augusta pressed out sternly, she absolutely refused to see Frank's son end up dead because of this war. No, she wanted him to go on, to have a family, keep the Longbottom line alive, and to do that, he couldn't become a target of that depraved soul that was Voldemort. He could help the war efforts from a distance, but never directly involved if she had her say. Neville wasn't a fighter, and that had in the past disheartened her, but now…now she was grateful for it, that he wouldn't just not come home one day. She knew deep in her heart that Frank and Alice didn't want this for him. As much as it tore their hearts and made them feel so guilty, they'd been glad, so very glad, that the Prophecy had been about the Potters.

"Augusta, the weight of the world hangs in the balance," Albus cautioned her to think before she spoke. There was no heat behind his words, giving away the fact he didn't feel passionate about them buying it. He just needed the Order to believe it before it all falls apart.

Neville paled and violently bit his tongue to stop himself speaking, the urge growing stronger by the minute.

"I have no desire to speak of this further," Augusta stated firmly, her cup of unfinished tea floating back onto the silver refreshment tray. "We are done here,"

"Augusta, please listen to reason," Albus urged her, she'd always been an obstinate woman, one not many actually crossed.

"Primsy?" Augusta called, eyes stern as they bored into Albus' seriously, "See to it that our guest is escorted to the gates," he was not getting to use Neville in his games.

Primsy didn't speak, merely hooked her finger on a piece of Dumbledore's clothing, which happened to be a gold and red cloak today, and teleported them to the gates of Longbottom Manor. He was just regaining his bearings when the gates were closed and the House-Elf was gone, returning to Lady Longbottom and young Master.

"Gran, what was that all about?" Neville asked as he stood, with calmness he definitely didn't feel. He knew though, if he outright demanded answers he'd just be ignored. His Gran loathed uncouthness, and demanded respect even by him, and most definitely in her own home.

"Take a seat," Augusta said, suddenly looking her age, or ten years older as she observed her tense grandson. "Seventeen years ago, before you were even conceived," Neville blushed furiously at that, still very much an innocent. "There was a prophecy created by one Sybill Trelawney during a job interview at the end of the school year in nineteen-ninety three and nineteen-ninety four for the Divination potion. She predicted that a child would be born with the power to vanquish V—You-Know-Who," refraining from saying his name out loud, she knew what happened to those who did, especially during the last war. It galled her having to say You-Know-Who in the privacy of her own home, but safety first before pride and all that.

Neville's eyebrows flew so high that Harry couldn't see them through his messy head of hair. "You're joking!" he choked out, "Harry?" he might not be one of the highest percentile in school, but he was far from stupid. People did underestimate him, including his grandmother, judging by the jolt of surprise that coursed through her, it might have been mere seconds but it was enough. Although it didn't sink in yet, that Dumbledore was suddenly thinking it was him! After all the idea was so ludicrous that even Neville would never dare to dream such thing.

"You-Know-Who made plans to deal with who he thought those children were. There were clues, one of them was 'As the seventh month dies' I was never told the exact wording of this so called prophecy." Augusta explained, placing a hand on her grandson in comfort. Something she wasn't very good at, but she tried her best. "According to rumour there were only two children who fitted that bill, yourself and Harry, yes,"

"But He chose Harry," Neville said, sadness and sympathy written across his face, he wouldn't wish his life on anyone, especially not Harry. Everyone thought it was bad knowing your parents were dead, but to him…the worst of it was visiting his comatose parents, speaking to them, hearing them breathing but knowing this was all they would know for the rest of their lives. The inside of a hospital on a bed, needing to be told to go to the toilet, to eat, to drink, it was horrific.

"That's correct, nobody knows quite why he chose Lord Potter," she hadn't been given permission to use his name after all. She doubted she ever would after the way he had looked at her. Nobody had spoken to her in such a way, or defended her grandson in such a passionate manner. It added to the guilt she already harboured around her heart. "Not that it matters anymore, he did choose him, I have no doubt whatever is in that prophecy is extremely bad if Lord Potter took his exams early and left." She believed Dumbledore when she said that Voldemort was back.

"He didn't leave for that reason," Neville shook his head, "He left because of Dumbledore and Umbridge,"

"Headmaster Dumbledore," Augusta admonished, saying nothing about Umbridge, she detested the woman. "Now what on earth happened that he'd wish to get away from the Headmaster?" not one for gossip – or so she told herself anyway – but truly wishing to know what had gone on this past year.

"Dumbledore knew about Umbridge using a Blood Quill at Hogwarts, on the students," Neville told her, "But something happened…when the school year begun. I'm not sure what, but both of them were pis…angry." Knowing better than to swear.

So perhaps her thoughts were correct, it was too much for a teenager to bear. Who in their right mind informs a fifteen year old they're responsible for the entire magical world and expect them to stay? Even in her day if someone told her that she too would have wanted to vanish. Not having any family, it would be very easy for Lord Potter to pack up his belongings and leave. The fact Dumbledore knew about a Blood Quill being used was very concerning, if it had happened to Neville she would have brought the entire wrath available to her from the House of Longbottom down on her revolting head.

"Wait, are you saying he thinks it's me?!" Neville cried out in surprise as it finally dawned on him that his Gran said two people fitted the prophecy, him or Harry.

"No, he definitely doesn't believe it was you," Augusta stated firmly. "Dumbledore wouldn't allow a mistake like that to happen. He's much too cautious about things such as these. No, he's up to something, and wants you for a reason I can't quite fathom yet, a decoy perhaps?" the thought left her feeling cold and furious. It was why she'd closed the wards around Dumbledore, letting him know without words he was not welcome. Ever again.

Nobody tried to manipulate her grandson. Especially not someone like Dumbledore. Someone her grandson would never be able to deny. Dumbledore was a revered figure, Neville wouldn't think twice about helping him unaware of the manipulation and intrigue by-plays that were happening in front of him. He wasn't that sort of boy and she refused to let it happen.

"Harry…Harry thought something like this could happen," Neville said staring at the floor, shame covering his entire face. "I thought he was just being…overly cautious and maybe too suspicious."

Augusta smirked, "Perhaps the boy knows him better than any of us believed," which could only be a good thing. Oh, Dumbledore was a good man, he would do what was best for the magical world on a whole, but not one person came before that whole. She'd only seen Harry Potter once, during Neville's first trip to the Hogwarts expressed. So innocent and overwhelmed, exuded the same as the Muggle-borns, an awe to the newness and there and then she knew he had only just realized he was a wizard and the magical world was real. She'd felt pity for him, perhaps she should have intervened, she knew Alice and Frank would have wanted it…but she was an old witch, looking after Neville – who was thankfully a quiet child – was enough for her without two eleven-year-olds. She heavily suspected that any attempts to get the child would have been soundly rejected. Dumbledore had plans for him after all that didn't include her.

"That's interesting," Harry muttered observing the woman from within the pensive.

Voldemort however didn't seem the slightest bit surprised, he had attended Hogwarts with this woman and knew how astute she was. It's why she had never joined the war, either side, remaining neutral, her son however, was too manipulated and beguiled by Dumbledore and did indeed join the war for the old man's side.

Augusta's lips turned into a thin line as she pursed them, every adult knew what Dumbledore was like. At least those who paid attention and observed everything. She did, hence why she knew Albus Dumbledore was quite the schemer, he had been since as far back as she could remember. An innocent like Harry, who looked up to Dumbledore…finding out what he truly wanted, what he was truly like…well, she wouldn't be surprised if Lord Potter didn't make a reappearance in the British Isles for as long as he lived.

"Go on, isn't it time to water your plants?" Augusta coached her grandson.

"Yeah," Neville muttered, clearly distracted but doing as he was told nonetheless.

Augusta watched him go, a pained look on her face, no Neville wouldn't stand a chance against Dumbledore. It was time she re-wrote her will, they had very distant relations in America, on her side of the family. If anything happened to her, Neville's life might be uprooted but he'd stay alive and that was the main thing. Oh, Dumbledore wouldn't do the deed, but his scheming could go severely wrong.

Voldemort watched her closely, it was obvious she thought that history was going to repeat itself judging by the look on her face.

With purpose and renewed determination Augusta approached her private desk just as Neville left the room.

The pensive swirled brightly indicating the end of the memory.

OO End Of Pensive Memory OO

The pensive didn't spit them out, quite yet, there was another memory to observe. It merely throwed both Voldemort and Harry into yet another viewing.

OO Pensive Memory OO

This time Neville wasn't in the scene, no, he was hidden from view behind one of the tapestries that led to a secret room. Watching the scene through a crack in the doorway, there was a piece of metal hooked on the door and the doorway, presumably preventing any accidental noises from happening if the door opened further.

The good thing though was that he and Voldemort could see everything, not just what Neville could see through the very thin slit in the doorway.

"I wonder if Augusta knows he's there," Harry pondered as he watched the scene, even before any duelling started you could see how tense both Augusta and Dumbledore were, Doge looked deeply uncomfortable.

"She most definitely does," Voldemort stated sharply, it was her manor she knew where everyone was.

She wanted him to see.

Wanted the boy to know Dumbledore's true nature.

"I'm not asking you to leave your home," Albus informed her, "I only ask that you and Mr. Longbottom refrain from going into public for a few weeks, that is all."

"What the hell?" Harry muttered, a frown twisting his features, Neville obviously hadn't heard the entire conversation.

"My answer will remain the same, Albus, I refuse to do this," Augusta informed him.

"Do you not understand? Without Harry you won't get your revenge for what happened to Frank and Alice!" Albus going for a low blow that would most assuredly get Augusta on his side.

"Do not bring them into this," Augusta retorted, angry beyond belief at Albus' blatant manipulations.

"It's for the greater good, Augusta, and it's not for long," Doge pointed out, trying to get rid of the tension that was currently swamping the room like a tidal wave. "Frank and Alice need you to do one thing for them, just one little thing."

"No, now you'll both leave my manor and never approach my doorstep again, otherwise I will get a restraining order against you, Albus," Augusta said in disgust, "I refuse to play your games, Neville will not let you use him in order to lure Lord Potter from hiding in order to try and manipulate him into fighting, again."

Harry narrowed his eyes, "Fucking bastard!" Harry swore angrily, he was grateful at least that Augusta and Neville had not wanted any part in this. "It's a good job we put the Fidelius Charm on this place…" otherwise he might have just ended up back in Dumbledore's clutches. He had a feeling that this time, Dumbledore was through playing, he liked to think his rings would have protected him from any potion or spell Dumbledore could think up to control him…but he wasn't positive that was true.

"Something obviously went wrong, or Dumbledore decided to continue his plans without their approval," Voldemort stated, there was no way Augusta would have let her grandson be nearly killed in order to draw Harry out, no matter what Dumbledore suggested or tried to coerce out of her.

"Augusta this must happen for the greater good," Dumbledore said sternly, losing his patience, Harry Potter was the most important piece of the chessboard, anyone else…absolutely anyone else was expendable. In the end even Harry Potter was expendable, but only in the end.

"Leave!" Augusta countered furiously, standing up, uncaring for protocol, she wouldn't stand this for a moment more.

"I am sorry to do this, I truly am," Albus said, blue eyes gleaming with desperation, as he withdrew his wand, it must be done. Augusta and Neville were low on the totem pole on people he held important.

"Albus!" Doge cried out as he stood up too, worry warring with disbelief on what was going on.

Then the duel was on, Doge squeaked and ducked down, hiding behind the seat for protection as spells zoomed back and forth.

"GRAN!" Neville cried out in fear, fumbling with the latch to get to her.

"Neville! Leave now!" Augusta said in her sternest voice, knowing her grandson would do as she told him.

Doge's eyes widened, glancing around as if hoping the answer was right in front of him on what on earth to do. In the end of the day though, his loyalty was to Albus Dumbledore and always had been since he was eleven years old. Grasping his own wand, he jumped in fright when the seat he was hiding behind splintered into a million jagged edges.

"Stop him!" Dumbledore demanded, and with that the fight continued on with Augusta, both of them very powerful in their own right.

However, the memory played from Neville's point of view, as he ran through the secret passageways, trying to get away from Doge. Ducking curses that were flung at his back, this being his home, he knew where to go best. If he could just outrun Doge he would end up lost. Unfortunately, for an old man he was spry and managed to keep up with Neville the entire time. In the end of the passageway he had to force himself out of the plant room, all the while being hit by curses and spells to slow him down by Doge, who had no idea if his spells were hitting his target or not.

When Neville slumped on the floor bleeding after a particularly nasty curse, Doge emerged from the passageway. He paled, looking sick to his stomach, "Hold on, just hold on," he muttered desperately, shaking to the core, "What the hell have I just done?" so ashamed of himself, he'd just attacked an underage school boy.

Suddenly Albus came up behind Doge, wand at his temple, "Obliviate," he uttered in a calm steady voice, even if his face gave away how shaken he was. He couldn't let him remember what happened after all. By then the memory went black, as Neville lost consciousness.

This time they were expelled from the pensive.

OO End Of Pensive Memory OO

Landing on their feet, expertly both just stared at one another, comprehending everything they'd seen in the memory. Voldemort was calm and composed, more interested in Harry's reaction than processing his own. Harry was endlessly fascinating to him, especially his reaction to things. He was constantly surprised by Harry's response to things. He reacted strongly to things he wouldn't expect, and was bland regarding others he had been positive would give the biggest respond.

"Why did the spells fail?" Harry asked, as he stalked back and forth, brow once again furrowed.

"Dumbledore did not use the Obliviate on Augusta or Neville," Voldemort pointed out, "He changed their memories, or attempted to do so." According to the deep evasive scan they'd used at any rate.

"Yes, but why did it fail?" Harry nodded, he already knew this, he'd been there when the results of the scans had been shared. "I mean come on, Dumbledore isn't a bloody slouch when it comes to magical powers!" of that neither of them could deny.

"Severe shock has been known to remove even Obliviates," Voldemort stated confidently. "That and enduring exposure to repeated Cruciatus Curses."

"Yeah, Jorkin's I know." Harry nodded, Barty had told him. "So you're saying that what…it didn't work because of how much shock they were in?" it sounded unbelievable as hell. When the spells were put on the recipients were usually in a state of shock anyway.

"Unless…Augusta had something up her sleeve to protect both herself and her grandson," Voldemort said, eyes gleaming thoughtfully.

"Well considering how against she was regarding Dumbledore and any plans he had…that actually wouldn't surprise me." Harry admitted, "I should have thought of that."

"Do you remember seeing runes of any kind fading on him? or perhaps seen any pendant or band that could have protected him?" Voldemort asked. He hadn't gone too near them, instead mostly lingered in the background before returning to his home, if there was going to be anywhere he'd be bored, then it would be home, here where he could sate his boredom.

"If they do have something on them…then it means they're lucky…that it protected them too, that is how they may have survived such a harsh attack." Harry mused, "I'll find out tomorrow, for all we know it might have just been Neville…Augusta Longbottom may have a different set of events in her mind."

"That is true," Voldemort conceded, and evidently the witch hadn't woken up to confirm or deny anything.

"Dumbledore just took a huge risk," Harry said, slumping down, completely stunned by what he'd done. "He risked them both dying just to draw me out, on the likelihood that I would actually fucking showed."

"Like Severus has often commented, he's capable of more than you can fathom and would go to any lengths to achieve his goals." Voldemort stated, "I am unsure of why this is a huge surprise to you…" Harry knew just as well as him just what the old fool was capable of.

"No, I'm used to him taking calculated risks, ones that will definitely pay off, there was no guarantee that this stupidity would." Harry countered immediately. "He has no idea where I am, I might never have heard what happened…even if I did there was no guarantee I would have returned."

"He is desperate," Voldemort returned, "Desperate enough that he's screwing up, desperate men always screw up," he should know, he had done so himself many times. Ironic really, he'd never thought he'd see the day where he was the one watching Dumbledore fall apart.

"But is he desperate enough to go after someone else?" Harry questioned darkly.

Green eyes gleaming with a vengeance Voldemort hadn't seen since Umbridge ended up in their cell. It caused a shiver of delight to run up his back, watching Harry at work was truly a wonderous thing. Honestly, he was surprised the boy hadn't tried someone with him during the whole graveyard debacle. Still playing the part in hopes he would get away, but the fact he didn't care about his own death perhaps enabled him to continue that path. He used to think Bellatrix was creative in her torture, but she was nothing on Harry, he left her in the dirt.

"Someone else, by that I assume you mean your 'friends' Granger and the Weasley boy?" Voldemort sneered the word friends knowing that Harry had only used them as a smokescreen, "Weasley he wouldn't risk as useless as he is, the entire family would never stop looking for answers…as for Granger it's a possibility, as are the Muggles she lives with." He was never going to like Muggles, no matter what Harry said or proved.

Harry's lips twitched at the fact Voldemort couldn't even say the word parents. "That's the problem though, he only ever saw my persona. To Hogwarts you could say what you liked about me, but everyone knew better than to mess with my friends. Neville was targeted first because I had a genuine friendship with him at the end, more than I ever had Granger and Weasley, he potentially could go after Granger and Weasley but…I doubt it…then again I wouldn't have thought he could do what he just did." Scowling darkly, he did not like an unpredictable Dumbledore. "Light or not, Neville has never done anything to anyone, he doesn't have a genuine bad bone in his body, he didn't deserve it." He was furious and frustrated at Dumbledore. "It's time we threw in a few distractions, now's the time to begin messing with Dumbledore." He declared seriously.

"What makes you think there's absolutely anything available?" Voldemort asked, his tone and face blank.

Harry grinned savagely, "If I managed to find a few things then you're bound to have,"

"Very well, let me hear what you've collected so far," pleasantly surprised by the fact Harry had the time to search out anything between training, reading, and his extracurricular activities that include creating potions and spells. It was very rare these days for him to be surprised by Harry, so to be surprised twice in one day was something.

"It's not much," Harry warned him, standing up, he moved out of the office and made his way to his bedroom. Even after all this time, it was such a strange thing for him to think or utter. All his life, it had been either the cupboard, Dudley's second bedroom, the Dorm, this was the one place he'd actually had somewhere to call his own.

He stood there in the doorway, relishing in this existence. For so long life had been about flying under the radar until he could get away. Truly not expecting to, he'd assumed he'd die at Voldemort's hands. The way things were going through…it looked as though Dumbledore was more liable to kill him than Voldemort.

Now wasn't that mind-blowing.

Okay, so will Harry have a coming out party so to speak amongst the Death Eaters? When he hits sixteen? And yes you have to remember Harry IS only Sixteen, the next year is going to fly by though…I do want the relationship to begin too but we'll get there I promise! I definitely knew it was going to be a slow burn but this slow burn? Yeah I didn't expect it either BUT I've never really did well with underage stories (probably because Harry's partners are so much older than him) I always prefer him to be at least seventeen ALTHOUGH sixteen is the age in which consent for sex in the UK it is seventeen in the magical world – not that Voldemort has to worry about going to prison LMAO – but there we go! The last letter Harry got from Neville was Dumbledore's 'claims' he was wrong about Harry BUT remember Dumbledore just wanted to use it as an excuse! Then later (weeks in fact) he returned to try and convince them to go under for a few weeks to try and drag Harry out of hiding…two separate instances and one where Dumbledore just loses his cool. Plus, we can also build up the other soon to be relationships…and I think I've just figured out how to get Barty and Hermione together… as for Luna I'm not sure about making her together with both Rad and Rod, sorry for those who wish for it…I do need to figure out someone for one of the Lestranges the one that doesn't get Luna that is! Read and Review Please