Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Chapter 22
Forest of Dean
It was close to midnight when the 2-way mirror we had charmed shook, rattling the bedside table where it lay. This was the first time since we had given the connecting mirror to Neville that it alerted us to its use. Thankfully I was still awake, as I was on baby duty that night, allowing Lily to get some much needed sleep.
Picking up the mirror, Neville's haggard expression stared desperately back at me. He looked utterly exhausted, his face was sunk in, his blue eyes dimmed in desperation.
"Neville, are you okay?"
"No," He choked out. "James...he needs help. He's losing his mind Professor. He tried to jump off a cliff. I-I don't know what to do."
"Where are you, Neville?"
"The Forest of Dean. We've been here for over a month, I'm afraid to leave with James so unstable."
"Okay, I'm coming. Keep your mirror on you we will need it to help me find your exact location."
"Yes, sir."
Jumping out of bed I quickly got dressed and gathered a few supplies. In my hurry I woke my wife.
"Sev, what's going on?" She asked groggily as she slowly pushed herself up in bed.
"Neville contacted me with the mirror. Apparently, Potter has lost is mind and Neville looks like an inferi."
"Those poor boys. Maybe...maybe you should try and convince them to come back or at least tell you what they are really up to."
"If it's as bad as I think it is I may bring them back even if they protest. They are going to kill themselves, Longbottom said Potter actually tried to throw himself off a cliff."
Lily gasped, shaking her head in unbelief. "Make sure you bring healing potions."
"I've already packed them. I will be back as soon as I can, hopefully by morning."
My wife got out of bed and pulled me into a tight embrace, "Be careful, please."
"I will, love. Don't worry."
XXX
I had never seen Longbottom look so dilapidated. He was an utter mess, not to mention he looked like he was starving to death. What had happened to the boy?
"James is in the tent asleep...I drugged his tea. I-I just couldn't handle him anymore."
Pulling a pepper up potion from my bag I handed it to the boy. "Drink this. I will see to Potter and then we'll talk."
Neville simply nodded and showed me into the tent. Potter didn't look much better than Longbottom. What really caught my attention was an item, a locket that was hanging around his neck. I could feel the dark magic radiating from it from several feet away.
"What is that?" I asked pointing to the locket.
Neville shook his head and dropped his gaze. "I can't tell you professor."
I sighed and rolled my eyes, this was insane. "We are past the point of secrets Neville. I have been understanding up to this point but I can feel the pull of dark magic from that thing. I want to know what it is and why your friend is wearing it."
Seeing no other option he relented and finally told me the truth. "It's what we have been searching for. You-Know-Who made horcruxes, that is one of them. We can't figure out how to destroy it."
I was more than a little caught off guard by what he had just admitted. Yes, I knew what a horcrux was, and I suppose I shouldn't be surprised The Dark Lord created one, still...
"You should have asked for help Neville, I'm sure an adult would have known how to help you."
The defeated young boy's shoulders slumped, "Dumbledore said I had to do it. That I was the Chosen One."
"Neville⦠Dumbledore should never have asked such a thing of you. I am proud of how you have tried to do the right thing, but it is always okay to ask for help."
Plopping down in a chair Neville ran his hand through his untidy hair and then in a moment of clarity or perhaps simple exhaustion, he confessed everything to me.
"He made several of them. A diary which was destroyed with Basilisk venom. I don't have access to that at the moment, a ring that Dumbledore destroyed. This locket is one and we also believe here is a cup, one that belonged to Helga Huffelpuff in Bellatrix Lastrange's vault, and the Diadem of Ravenclaw which is in the castle, but we don't know where. We think his snake is one as well. When those are all destroyed then he can be killed."
It was official Dumbledore was completely barmy. Why in Merlin's name would he expect a teenage boy and his friend to be able to handle this, it's completely insane.
"Neville, I am also going to strongly encourage you to rethink this. It would get done much faster and with less issues if you allowed others to help you."
"That's why I called you Professor. Your-your the only one that's ever really tried to understand me, to help me, at least in a way that didn't make me feel like a failure. I have to finish this the way I started it, but I really do appreciate your help."
As much as I wanted to force him to come back with me, I wouldn't. He was a man, 17 and free to make his own choices. I just hoped he lived through it and if he didn't... I knew what needed to be done.
"Okay, I'm going to help James and then I am going to destroy the locket."
"We've tried every, Sir. Nothing has worked. If I had the sword of Gryffindor, it's embedded with Basilisk venom, they I could but obviously I don't."
"Again, Neville, if you needed the sword you should have asked. I will see what I can do to get it for you."
Neville's eyes widened at the possibility, "Really, sir."
"I believe so, I am the Deputy Head after all."
I used my wand to summon the locket, but I did not touch it. Instead I levitated it to a nearby table and then tended to Potter. "Do not, I repeat do not allow him to put that back on. Nor will you wear it, understand!"
"Yes, sir."
XXX
It was after four in the morning when I finally arrived home. I waited to leave until I was sure the effects of the horcrux were no longer affecting Potter. I gave them both several nutritional potions and left several bottles of pepper up with them. I also made a quick run to a local muggle grocer, they were almost completely out of food and money. As soon as Minerva was up and in her office we were going to have a long talk and then I was going to take the bloody sword of Gryffindor to Longbottom.
A/N: Next up Voldemort become a father.
