Chapter 3: Brother's Keeper

Droplets of water fell from Neville's naked body onto the oak floor, each droplet making a pattering sound against the pool of water he stood on. It seemed to be the only thing marking time as Neville stood with his arms stretched out on the sink, tears falling from his eyes as he gazed in the mirror at the oval and purple abrasion that encircled his entire abdomen region.

There was a knock on the door that broke his gaze. Quickly, he wiped his face and grabbed his wand, using it to open the door with the wave of it. With another wave, a large towel wrapped around his torso.

"Harry, If you've come to help wipe my arse, I've already-" Neville said, turning toward the larger body that certainly was not his brother. Rather, a concerned looking Wormtail. "Now isn't this an even better surprise? Someone with experience."

"Your Grace, Master Harry is missing a-"

"Well…find him." Neville replied, grabbing a necklace that was lying on the counter, "Am I the keeper of the manor?"

"Your Grace, please. Master Harry is missing along with the prisoner and the girl you came with."

"Knowing Harry, he got all the information he needed and told Pansy to make sure the muggle was set free with a manor, lots of land, and riches. My brother is fine."

"Your Grace, it's not like-"

"Enough, you overstuffed troll," Neville said sharply, "I'm sure they are both awaiting my arrival at the palace, which you sure as shit better have gotten me ready for. There's nothing worse than having to make an appearance and still getting chewed out. "

Wormtail backed away, "Everything is ready, Your Grace."

Neville stormed past the short and stumpy man into the corridor, "Good. I need to be on my way. You've wasted enough time with pointless shit."

"I understand, Your Grace. Follow me."

Neville was positive Harry probably transferred the prisoner to the capital dungeon. His brother was never happy with any 'guest' at his manors. Not like his wife, Lavender, the girl had a waitlist of visitors to their manor who all came to spend his money and get their ear talked off by the busiest woman in the world.

Wormtail brought him to a smaller and emptier room. It was filled with the noble standard couch, and nice painting, and the chimney with an abundance of floo powder on top of its ledges. Neville's ceremonial robe was levitating in front of the flood network. A stuffy and green ornamented robe that had an obnoxious amount of designs on all of them. The cloak simply made the robe constricting and silly-looking.

Neville sighed and threw the itchy thing on.

"Your Grace, do you need a pair of trousers?"

Neville threw the cape toward his back, "Of course not. I'm already a prisoner in this shit. The robe is long enough."

"Your Grace, when you see Master Harry let him know the flowers are melting. Safe travels. Please return soon."

"Sure," Neville said as he grabbed a fistful of floo powder. Throwing it into the flames, he watched as it turned green, "I'm hopeful I don't have to see you for another few years."

With that Neville said the name of his location and stepped into the flames, the next time he opened his eyes, he was stepping out into the palace's floo room. Two guards stood at the entrance and a slender man with white-blond hair stood in front of the floo, his cold-gray eyes examining Neville up and down. An assistant stood behind him.

"The Crimson Prince has arrived…looking like a fucking buffoon."

Neville grinned, "It's good to see you too, Draco."

Draco Malfoy was more focused on fixing Neville's robes, "I wish I could say the same - stand straighter- but you make all my designs look so unflattering."

"You should make better shit."

Draco snickered as he fixed Neville's hair. "I'm sure the new heir will look better in all my designs, and she won't give me ridiculous designs to fulfill."

Neville chuckled, "It's good to see you."

"Yes. It seems like yesterday you, Knott, and me use to sneak out the castle and terrorize the muggles. Simpler times."

Neville laughed. "Damn. Now that I'm back, we'll need to grab a drink…sometime between our busy schedule."

Draco pulled away, giving Neville a once-over.

"It seems I'll have a bit of time now that the event of the summer is canceled."

Neville shook his head. "You heard the news."

"When have I not? Of course, this one was personal. I had a new collection I was told I could showcase. Losing a lot of money on the black prince because I refuse to showcase this collection on a fucking Crabbe wedding."

An assistant whispered into Draco's ear.

"It seems they're beyond ready for you in the court. I don't need to babysit you since your brother isn't here, do I?"

Neville narrowed his eyes, "He isn't here?"

Draco shrugged. "No. Were you two not together earlier?"

"We were. He was - is - running an errand. I did not think he would take so long."

"Brilliant. Either way let's get this show on the road."

Neville nodded, making his way into a larger corridor. It was empty besides the guards that were stationed along the walkway since most of the nobles would have already been seated, but just beyond the corridor he could hear the roar of the crowd. Even on such short notice, people always clamored to see the nobles walk to court. Neville loved the way they looked up to him. If he was in charge, he would let them get as close as possible so he could see them grovel.

Neville exited into the larger courtyard. It was beautiful with its large fountain with a statue of basilisk curled around a wand sitting in the center of the courtyard, spitting out water from high in the air. The crowd was just beyond it, kept at bay by a row of guards, and intentional architecture that made sure the crowd could never get over it without much difficulty.

"Waste of space, " Neville said, smiling and waving as he made his way toward the entrance of the court.

The crowd was electric, people were jumping to see a fleeting glimpse of the crimson prince acknowledging them. Neville had a hard time wondering how those not in nobility could ever be so cheerful. To not be a noble, seemed like a death sentence. It was no wonder some fought so hard to get rid of the emperor, who wouldn't want a life like this?

The entrance of the court was stuffed with guards, usually he would be leading the pack earlier, but he was late. Guards opened the main entrance of the door into the courtroom.

"The Crimson Prince has arrived, "A crier announced.

The courtroom was cold, not like a regular cold, but stepping into the room brought a certain chill that seemed to rest in the bones and stayed there. Stepping into the long and narrow aisle, a beautiful black marble coated the center aisle. It was almost irresistible to look at, but this was no ordinary black marble, staring down it would showcase a deep fear or an insecurity. A reminder to never look down in the Emperor's Court. At the very end, the aisle fell away and what was left was a deep black hole. No one knows where it led. Above the hole, on a big floating slab of black marble was the Emperor and his wife. The light from the arched windows behind him only shone on him, making him look like a God.

In his chair, he sat expressionless. A sign that he was analyzing everything around him, that he was reading his court, scrutinizing and examining everything around him. Nothing surprised him. Next to him was his mom, the Empress, Bellatrix Black. They both set their eyes on Neville as he sauntered down the aisle, waving at the pureblood families as required of him.

A voice entered his head, like a whisper. It sent shivers down his back. 'Where is your brother?'

Neville looked up at his father. 'I don't know.'

On the other side of the aisles were sections for the pureblood families of England. Each family was given a section for their families and esteemed guests, where they stood and watched. The heads of each family stood front and centered. The closest sections to the floating platform were observed for royal advisors, and guests.

He could see his wife Lavender, gesturing to him to hurry. Neville hurried to his seat next to her.

"You're late." Lavender leaned over to him, "The Empress is not happy."

"Mother will get over it."

"And where is your broth-"

Neville forcefully grabbed Lavender's hand. "I'm not his keeper."

"No, he's yours."

A crier yelled out for the court, "The Emperor will now address the court."

Everyone said in Unison. "All Hail the Emperor."

Neville watched as his father stood up from his chair. A man who towered over his subjects with his pale skin, jet black hair that had started to gray, and dark brown eyes.

The Emperor lifted his hands to the court, "Today, marks a new celebration for England and all conquered territories of this Empire. I, in whose veins runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself, present a marvelous gift to my court. A princess of my blood, whose blood is purest of them all."

The Emperor with his hands waved his fingers, revealing a servant girl, who held a baby in her arms. The court began clapping as the servant girl lifted the baby, his sister, for the court.

The Emperor continued, staring at the little girl, "Delphini Black, may your enemies cower in your wake, your friends sit in envy of your wealth, and your royal blood be a beacon of hope for all of the Empire."

Lavender squeezed Neville's hand. "She's so cute! I hope the Empress will let me hold her. "

The Emperor gazed out to his court, "This marks a new era for this Empire. An era where we conquer those fools across the pond. An era where we finally rid our beautiful empire of those who would see it destroyed. An era where we go from a young new empire to one that stands before the annals of history as the greatest empire of all civilization, united by one idea, united by one people, united by and under me. Don't be fooled by naysayers, dissenters, and fools. We are stronger today than we've ever been, and will continue to be strong. The Emperor has spoken."

"All Hail the Emperor."

"The ceremony is now over. Please move over to the ballroom for further celebration and a holding of formal court by the Empress," The crier announced as guards again opened the door into the main courtyard as Families began pouring out of their sections to drink, gossip, and be needy.

"Is Harry okay?" Lavender asked, turning toward Neville, "It's not like your brother to miss a court, and with this whole Daphne thing, I'm thinking something must be off? Speaking of, honey, I've invited Daphne for dinner next week. I think it's better if she isn't alone. Oh, but the guest room is such a mess right now! Draco says the furniture should be ready next week, but do you think it will be ready before then? "

Neville sighed. "He's fine. That's fine. It's fine."

"Neville, It's not fine. It's a mess."

"I'm sure you'll fix it. Lavender, go on to the ballroom, Draco would like to hear more requests from you." Neville said as the last of the families poured out the door, leaving the few royals in the court alone. Without wasting any more time, he flew up to the platform where only his mother, the Empress, sat alone.

Bellatrix's heavily hooded eyes fell on the prince, "If any one should have been missing from court, it should have been you, my reckless son."

Neville looked away, "Where is Father? Too disappointed in me to stay?"

"The war across the pond is his sole attention. With the new front open-"

"That's where I should be. None of this court appearance shit. None of this playing hide and seek with the resistance. I was fine where I was. I never asked to come back here. Father was wrong to move me. I'm the one who conquered the east, " Neville replied, his face growing red from anger. Bellatrix stood from her seat, "And when I was out there, I-

Neville was stopped by the hand that came swiftly across his face, leaving Neville stunned. Her words were sharp, "We live to serve the Empire and its ruler. Prince or not, never forget your place. Now, where is your brother?"

Neville held his reddening cheek. "I don't- the dungeons. He had a mug- prisoner to question."

"Go get him. The Emperor will be returning soon and would like to discuss an important matter as a family," Bellatrix said, servants rushing to grab the end of her robes, "I expect to see you and your brother within the hour to see your sister and shake hands with the families. You know how much this means to them."

Neville said bitterly, watching his mother leave the platform, "Yes, Mother."

With her gone, the courtroom was empty besides a guard and a few house-elves cleaning up. Neville turned back to the Emperor's throne. He approached it. With one glance-over into the court, he took a seat in the black and glistening throne chair.

Looking over the courtroom, he felt a sense of power from sitting on the throne.

'Harry, this.'

'Harry, that.'

It was always about Harry. When Harry wasn't the one who was on the ground and leading the conquering of the east at the age of nineteen. Only six years later, everyone seemed to forget that without Neville, the Emperor would still be a king.

He gripped the arm chair of the throne tightly.

No.

That bitch would not steal his legacy from him. He would not be forgotten nor overshadowed, by anyone. When it was all said and done, the Emperor would hand him the crown. By choice or by force, everyone would eventually bow under the Crimson Emperor.

A/N:

- FYI, there will be no Horcruxes in this story. :)