p class="MsoNormal"strongA/N- I got some feedback that said the last chapter was "hard to read", which I get, so if anyone has any further details on how I could make it a bit easier to read I'd really appreciate that feedback too! /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongSorry I took a break, uni has been mad with deadlines and assessments and presentations- I swear, this degree will finish me before I finish it! /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongThanks for your patience with this, I hope this next chapter is a little easier to read. I feel like I wrote myself into a corner and was trying to figure it out for the longest time but it just wasn't working. I hope it's not too unbelievable and works within the context of the story. /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongThank you for reading, if you have any comments please leave them below, and as always, Enjoy!/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Neville and Harry sat in McGonagall's office, opposite her desk, nervously. She was sat facing them, her fingertips pressed to her temples. Alastor Moody stood in the corner with an unreadable expression, leaning against his cane./p
p class="MsoNormal""Alastor, it really is not a good idea for you to be here," said McGonagall in her clipped Scottish accent./p
p class="MsoNormal"He grunted in response. "Boys need to know the truth. Leave it to you, they probably won't know until they're in the real world. And then it'll be too late."/p
p class="MsoNormal"She sighed, feeling harassed, and put her hands down. "Dumbledore should be here, at least."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Moody nodded. "He's on his way."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You called for him already?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Minerva," he almost scoffed. "It's Albus we're talking about here. He knows exactly what's going on."/p
p class="MsoNormal"She nodded once in agreement, and the door swung open. In walked the headmaster, in purple robes and a matching hat. He sighed as he stepped through the door and analysed the situation. Moody had planned this, clearly, and with his magical eye he must have seen Albus cast his spell from outside the room. Still, best to get this over with then he would explain to Minerva and Alastor what he'd done./p
p class="MsoNormal""Minerva," he greeted. "Alastor- I thought you were meant to be back in London?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Had to be here for this, Albus." His gaze was unwavering and met the headmasters' perfectly./p
p class="MsoNormal""Very well," Dumbledore sighed. "Harry, Neville I suppose you're wondering why you're here."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Harry chewed the inside of his lip. From what he'd overheard- he knew why he was here. He and Neville had pieces of You-Know-Who inside of them./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dumbledore closed the door and entered the room, drawing up a chair next to McGonagall's and another near Moody, and they both sat. "There are… many things that are unclear to all of us," he said, brushing his white beard flat. "And many of them revolve around Halloween of 1981, the day all four of your parents passed." He coughed hesitantly. "From what we can understand- and it's still unclear whether this is exactly what happened, it's just a theory at the moment-"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Moody snorted. "Dumbledore's theories are usually accurate." He sniped./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dumbledore fixed him with a stare before returning to the two students. "It appears that Frank and Alice Longbottom- yes, your parents, Neville- were visiting the Potters in Godric's Hollow, the night that Voldemort attacked. When we arrived at the scene, we found them. They died defending their two sons./p
p class="MsoNormal""You two were protected by your parent's protections, and it sounds as though each of your mothers must have placed protection charms on you, unwittingly or otherwise./p
p class="MsoNormal""But something else happened- Voldemort disappeared, we all know that. Yet when I inspected the house, I saw clear traces of a powerful magic."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What… magic, sir?" Harry asked nervously./p
p class="MsoNormal""One beyond the normal bounds of wizardry and witchcraft. One that is so rare, most do not know of its existence…" Dumbledore's eyes were cloudy, it was clear he was remembering a dark memory. "You need not concern yourselves with that. All you need to know is: whatever it did to affect you, it does not change who you are. You are both strong young men, stronger than Voldemort could ever be. I want you to remember that."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Moody scowled in the corner but said nothing./p
p class="MsoNormal"After further assuring the two boys that there was nothing wrong, they were ushered out of the office and sent back to their common rooms./p
p class="MsoNormal"Albus turned to Alastor, furious. "How are you do this!" he didn't raise his voice, but each syllable felt more dangerous. "Do you realise you've put me in an impossible situation?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Moddy glared back. "Like you care," he growled, "You've probably already obliviated them- isn't that what you were doing outside?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""If you must know, no," replied Dumbledore matter-of-factly. "I simply locked away the memories. In a few minutes they will not be able to remember this conversation, and it can only be unlocked with a certain phrase from one of the people present during the conversation they're to forget. A rather nifty charm I developed, if I say so myself, though I'm not sure if how they will react in terms of feelings. It seems hormonal changes in children and teenagers may affect it. They may still feel anxious, though they don't know why." He looked over at Minerva. "I hope you understand why I did this."/p
p class="MsoNormal"She nodded. "You did what you had to do. Though I recommend not unlocking these particular memories until they're mature enough to handle the stress- fifteen at least, I would say."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He nodded sagely in reply. "Yes, quite what I was thinking. We need to do this wisely." Turning back to Moody, he glared again. "And no more unnecessary contact with them, or giving extra information, until I give the go-ahead. You may have forgotten, Mad-Eye, but they are still children, and under my protection. I've always given you permission to come and go as you please- don't give me a reason to change that." The threat wasn't explicit, but Moody looked appropriately shamed (though most people wouldn't have noticed it- his face was blank and emotionless, but Dumbledore and McGonagall knew him well enough to know exactly what he was thinking.)/p
p class="MsoNormal"Dumbledore left, closing the door behind him, and Moody vanished through the Floo fireplace. Minerva sank into her chair, suddenly exhausted, and in need of a Firewhisky./p
p class="MsoNormal"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Walking to the stairs, Neville looked at Harry. "Do you want to come to the Gryffindor common room and talk about that?" he asked hesitantly, unsure of the rules about being in another house's designated area after hours./p
p class="MsoNormal"Harry considered it. "It would be good to talk about this- and I don't fancy going back to the Slytherin common room right now. I know I'm supposed to be loyal to them, but I just don't feel totally comfortable there."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Neville nodded considerately, and the two set off in a companionable silence./p
p class="MsoNormal"They were approaching the Fat Lady's portrait when footsteps came from behind them. "Harry? Neville?" he stepped up to them. "Are you two okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Harry stared at the pale boy. "Since when are we on a first name basis, Malfoy?" he asked, almost sneeringly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Draco was taken aback. "I guess we're not," he said. The three stepped into the common room, Draco's good mood deflating into more brooding. "I'm going to bed. I'm not even going to ask what you're doing here," he added, nodding at Harry./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once he was up in his dorm, he tossed his bag onto the ground. The letter from his mother fluttered onto the ground, and he glanced at it. He wasn't even sure he wanted to leave Hogwarts anymore. He had felt a kinship with Hermione, and he was sure she felt it too. He nudged the letter with his toe./p
p class="MsoNormal""What's that?" asked Dean, laying sideways on his bed, his head hanging back. Naturally, Seamus was right next to him. The two were seemingly inseparable./p
p class="MsoNormal""Letter from my parents," Draco grunted, and nudged it under his bed./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dean nodded sympathetically. "They found out about where you were sorted? Let me guess, disappointed you didn't follow in their footsteps and end up in Slytherin?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""How did you know they were Slytherins?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Seamus snorted. "It's kind of… obvious, mate."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Draco shrugged, and kicked off his boots, picking up his pyjamas to change into them. He looked around. "Hey, where's Ron?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""With the twins, probably," Seamus and Dean cracked identical, evil smiles. Dean glanced at the pyjamas, then back at Draco with innocent eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal"Draco eyed the two suspiciously. What did those smirks mean? Shrugging it off, he pulled on his pyjamas, only for them to immediately turn a horrible green-and-pink pattern. He sighed as the two boys roared with laughter. Three more laughs came from the doorway, and he turned to see Ron and the Twins standing there. "Very funny, guys," he sighed, pulling out his wand and changing the colour back to black./p
p class="MsoNormal"Or rather, tried to change./p
p class="MsoNormal"The pyjamas stayed gaudy and neon./p
p class="MsoNormal"strongSorry I took a break, uni has been mad with deadlines and assessments and presentations- I swear, this degree will finish me before I finish it! /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongThanks for your patience with this, I hope this next chapter is a little easier to read. I feel like I wrote myself into a corner and was trying to figure it out for the longest time but it just wasn't working. I hope it's not too unbelievable and works within the context of the story. /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongThank you for reading, if you have any comments please leave them below, and as always, Enjoy!/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Neville and Harry sat in McGonagall's office, opposite her desk, nervously. She was sat facing them, her fingertips pressed to her temples. Alastor Moody stood in the corner with an unreadable expression, leaning against his cane./p
p class="MsoNormal""Alastor, it really is not a good idea for you to be here," said McGonagall in her clipped Scottish accent./p
p class="MsoNormal"He grunted in response. "Boys need to know the truth. Leave it to you, they probably won't know until they're in the real world. And then it'll be too late."/p
p class="MsoNormal"She sighed, feeling harassed, and put her hands down. "Dumbledore should be here, at least."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Moody nodded. "He's on his way."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You called for him already?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Minerva," he almost scoffed. "It's Albus we're talking about here. He knows exactly what's going on."/p
p class="MsoNormal"She nodded once in agreement, and the door swung open. In walked the headmaster, in purple robes and a matching hat. He sighed as he stepped through the door and analysed the situation. Moody had planned this, clearly, and with his magical eye he must have seen Albus cast his spell from outside the room. Still, best to get this over with then he would explain to Minerva and Alastor what he'd done./p
p class="MsoNormal""Minerva," he greeted. "Alastor- I thought you were meant to be back in London?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Had to be here for this, Albus." His gaze was unwavering and met the headmasters' perfectly./p
p class="MsoNormal""Very well," Dumbledore sighed. "Harry, Neville I suppose you're wondering why you're here."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Harry chewed the inside of his lip. From what he'd overheard- he knew why he was here. He and Neville had pieces of You-Know-Who inside of them./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dumbledore closed the door and entered the room, drawing up a chair next to McGonagall's and another near Moody, and they both sat. "There are… many things that are unclear to all of us," he said, brushing his white beard flat. "And many of them revolve around Halloween of 1981, the day all four of your parents passed." He coughed hesitantly. "From what we can understand- and it's still unclear whether this is exactly what happened, it's just a theory at the moment-"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Moody snorted. "Dumbledore's theories are usually accurate." He sniped./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dumbledore fixed him with a stare before returning to the two students. "It appears that Frank and Alice Longbottom- yes, your parents, Neville- were visiting the Potters in Godric's Hollow, the night that Voldemort attacked. When we arrived at the scene, we found them. They died defending their two sons./p
p class="MsoNormal""You two were protected by your parent's protections, and it sounds as though each of your mothers must have placed protection charms on you, unwittingly or otherwise./p
p class="MsoNormal""But something else happened- Voldemort disappeared, we all know that. Yet when I inspected the house, I saw clear traces of a powerful magic."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What… magic, sir?" Harry asked nervously./p
p class="MsoNormal""One beyond the normal bounds of wizardry and witchcraft. One that is so rare, most do not know of its existence…" Dumbledore's eyes were cloudy, it was clear he was remembering a dark memory. "You need not concern yourselves with that. All you need to know is: whatever it did to affect you, it does not change who you are. You are both strong young men, stronger than Voldemort could ever be. I want you to remember that."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Moody scowled in the corner but said nothing./p
p class="MsoNormal"After further assuring the two boys that there was nothing wrong, they were ushered out of the office and sent back to their common rooms./p
p class="MsoNormal"Albus turned to Alastor, furious. "How are you do this!" he didn't raise his voice, but each syllable felt more dangerous. "Do you realise you've put me in an impossible situation?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Moddy glared back. "Like you care," he growled, "You've probably already obliviated them- isn't that what you were doing outside?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""If you must know, no," replied Dumbledore matter-of-factly. "I simply locked away the memories. In a few minutes they will not be able to remember this conversation, and it can only be unlocked with a certain phrase from one of the people present during the conversation they're to forget. A rather nifty charm I developed, if I say so myself, though I'm not sure if how they will react in terms of feelings. It seems hormonal changes in children and teenagers may affect it. They may still feel anxious, though they don't know why." He looked over at Minerva. "I hope you understand why I did this."/p
p class="MsoNormal"She nodded. "You did what you had to do. Though I recommend not unlocking these particular memories until they're mature enough to handle the stress- fifteen at least, I would say."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He nodded sagely in reply. "Yes, quite what I was thinking. We need to do this wisely." Turning back to Moody, he glared again. "And no more unnecessary contact with them, or giving extra information, until I give the go-ahead. You may have forgotten, Mad-Eye, but they are still children, and under my protection. I've always given you permission to come and go as you please- don't give me a reason to change that." The threat wasn't explicit, but Moody looked appropriately shamed (though most people wouldn't have noticed it- his face was blank and emotionless, but Dumbledore and McGonagall knew him well enough to know exactly what he was thinking.)/p
p class="MsoNormal"Dumbledore left, closing the door behind him, and Moody vanished through the Floo fireplace. Minerva sank into her chair, suddenly exhausted, and in need of a Firewhisky./p
p class="MsoNormal"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Walking to the stairs, Neville looked at Harry. "Do you want to come to the Gryffindor common room and talk about that?" he asked hesitantly, unsure of the rules about being in another house's designated area after hours./p
p class="MsoNormal"Harry considered it. "It would be good to talk about this- and I don't fancy going back to the Slytherin common room right now. I know I'm supposed to be loyal to them, but I just don't feel totally comfortable there."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Neville nodded considerately, and the two set off in a companionable silence./p
p class="MsoNormal"They were approaching the Fat Lady's portrait when footsteps came from behind them. "Harry? Neville?" he stepped up to them. "Are you two okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Harry stared at the pale boy. "Since when are we on a first name basis, Malfoy?" he asked, almost sneeringly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Draco was taken aback. "I guess we're not," he said. The three stepped into the common room, Draco's good mood deflating into more brooding. "I'm going to bed. I'm not even going to ask what you're doing here," he added, nodding at Harry./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once he was up in his dorm, he tossed his bag onto the ground. The letter from his mother fluttered onto the ground, and he glanced at it. He wasn't even sure he wanted to leave Hogwarts anymore. He had felt a kinship with Hermione, and he was sure she felt it too. He nudged the letter with his toe./p
p class="MsoNormal""What's that?" asked Dean, laying sideways on his bed, his head hanging back. Naturally, Seamus was right next to him. The two were seemingly inseparable./p
p class="MsoNormal""Letter from my parents," Draco grunted, and nudged it under his bed./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dean nodded sympathetically. "They found out about where you were sorted? Let me guess, disappointed you didn't follow in their footsteps and end up in Slytherin?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""How did you know they were Slytherins?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Seamus snorted. "It's kind of… obvious, mate."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Draco shrugged, and kicked off his boots, picking up his pyjamas to change into them. He looked around. "Hey, where's Ron?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""With the twins, probably," Seamus and Dean cracked identical, evil smiles. Dean glanced at the pyjamas, then back at Draco with innocent eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal"Draco eyed the two suspiciously. What did those smirks mean? Shrugging it off, he pulled on his pyjamas, only for them to immediately turn a horrible green-and-pink pattern. He sighed as the two boys roared with laughter. Three more laughs came from the doorway, and he turned to see Ron and the Twins standing there. "Very funny, guys," he sighed, pulling out his wand and changing the colour back to black./p
p class="MsoNormal"Or rather, tried to change./p
p class="MsoNormal"The pyjamas stayed gaudy and neon./p