A Special Programming Note, The First Chapter of "Encores", which takes place before this series in the timeline, just dropped on Monday. So feel free to check that out.

Harry found himself face to face with the individual behind the mask. It had been a long time.

"Surprised to see me?"

Given Harry had not seen this individual in years, he was a bit surprised.

"Harry Potter will fall. We will finally slay the dragon."

Sara and Kara stepped into the room. Sara's mouth hung open.

"My God," Sara murmured. "That's…."

"Yes, it is," Kara said. "Yes,it is."

"Can't be bothered to say my name, Harry? I don't blame you. I'm just a footnote in your life. The other one it could have been, but it never was."

"Neville," Harry murmured. "I thought you were…"

"You never bothered to look," Neville said. "Neither did Ron. Or Ginny. Or Hermione. Or even Luna. I was brought down in a fiery blaze of glory. I was in St. Mungos for days. And oh, you visited me, but eventually I was gone. And you thought that I had just recovered and you got caught up in your life. All of your fame. Just think what would have happened if it would have been me. I think about it all of the time. But, it doesn't matter, does it Harry?"

"Neville, you've been brainwashed," Harry told him a second later. "Understand that you're just a pawn of this…Court of the Owls did you say?"

"They're operating in Gotham City," Kara said. "I'll get in touch with the people there. See what they know."

"This might be deeper than we thought," Sara said.

"It's over," Harry said. "Your plan to destroy me. It's done. It's time for you to wake up Neville."

"Oh, I'm awake," Neville said. "I'm more awake then I've ever been….ooh God!"

Neville dropped to the ground, and was bleeding from the ears. It looked like agony.

"There's a failsafe to prevent an asset from being compromised," Gideon said. "The mask has been removed, but other protocols have been activated."

"See if you can find a way to block it," Harry said.

"Let me die, because death is better than living as a failure," Neville gasped. "My grandmother told me that much. I never lived up to my father…my mother, or anything."

"You've done well for yourself," Harry said.

"Not good enough, that was my last chance to be something special, and they won't let me walk back, alive," Neville gasped. "My head, it's on fire. I can't help them, unless I kill you. Bring them back the head of the Dragon. I thought that if I eliminated James Potter, I could be something special."

"I doubt Voldemort would have made the same choices," Harry said. "And you went after Snape."

"Snape was personal, you know what he's done," Neville said. "You of all people should know what he's done."

"I do," Harry said. "And Bellatrix too?"

"Yes, Bellatrix, Junior, Snape, and your father were my only targets," Neville said. "But, I was to leave no witnesses. They're going to kill me for that."

"Unless you kill everyone on the ship," Harry said. "Well, I'd invite you to try."

"Harry, what are you doing?" Sara asked.

The cage came down and Neville blinked for a second. Neville withdrew a hidden dagger from his sleeve and rushed towards Harry. Harry sidestepped both of his attacks and grabbed Neville's arms before flipping him to the ground. Harry removed the dagger, along with the hidden vial of poison in the sleeve of his robes.

"Too much of a coward to drink that when I had the chance," Neville gasped. "Kill me. Put me out of my misery. I tried to kill your father."

"Not willingly," Harry said. "The Carrows, they did a number on you. And you were kept in that dungeon for days before you escaped and then Bellatrix did a number on you. And Snape let it all happen."

"You let it all happen," Neville said. "Kill me before I lose control again. I deserve to die. At least I die at the hands of Harry Potter."

"I'm in the process of setting up a blocking agent for his nanites," Gideon said.

"Hold still, Neville," Harry said. "This will sting a little bit."

Harry leaned in and shoved the needle into the side of his neck. Neville screamed and his body started to pulse. He rose up, and moved for his dagger. He plunged it towards Harry.

Seconds later, Neville dropped the dagger, unable to take violence against Harry.

"And a little insurance never goes amiss," Gideon said. "Not sure what the point of letting him stab you was."

"If he was willing to go all the way, then I would take him down," Harry said. "But, even without your insurance, I sensed hestitation."

Neville dropped to his knees, utterly defeated.

"I heard sounds is everything….bloody hell!"

Ron stood and came face to face with Neville.

"Here's our time assassin," Harry told him. "Although there's someone more insidious pulling the strings."

"You attract all sorts, don't you?" Ron asked.

Astra stepped into the room next and looked at him.

"Is that…"

"Astra, this is Neville Longbottom," Harry said. "Neville, this is my oldest friend, Astra Logue."

"Didn't think you had any friends before Ron and Hermione," Neville said in a raspy voice.

"Yeah, common misconception," Harry said. "Would you believe that Dumbledore erased five years of my memories?"

"If you asked me thirty years ago, never," Neville said. "Not surprised."

"Take a seat," Harry said. "And I'll explain to you. And maybe if you'd like, you can stick around and get some perspective about things that happened."

"You should kill me," Neville said.

"If I thought you were a threat, you wouldn't be breathing," Harry said.

"I can vouch for that," Sara said.

And Neville believed it.

"So, they ended up pulling a Winter Soldier with him?" Sara asked and Harry nodded. "Are we sure we can trust him not to flip."

"We'll see."

Hermione had been glad for a long and extended break, but she had her head to wrap around different things. A knock on her door caught her off guard.

"Hermione, are you alright in there?"

"Yes, Ronald, I'm fine," Hermione said.

"Oh, I know that tone and you're not fine," Ron said. "Harry's unmasked the time assassin and you're never going to believe this. It was Neville. Neville Longbottom."

"That's impossible," Hermione said. "He was a catatonic vegetable and was moved from St. Mungos to be with his relatives for his remaining days."

"Yeah, well he's not so catatonic now," Ron said. "Harry's got him sedated and I think he's going to be invited to join with the reading."

Hermione sighed.

"Look, you're upset about Dumbledore…."

"I just can't believe he pretty much told Harry he was a Horcrux, without telling Harry he was a Horcrux," Hermione said. "Not sure it mattered, but Dumbledore knew from at least that moment that Harry would need to sacrifice himself. And he just blinked, like it was nothing."

"I hate being right," Ron said.

"Yes, and I hate being wrong," Hermione said. "But, there we are. We're coming on third year. That's my lowest point."

"Yeah, well I've got fourth year, so we're going to have to take our medicine when the time comes," Ron said. "I don't think Harry really completely trusted either of us after fourth year."

"You're right," Hermione said. "Do you think he kept with us out of obligation or perhaps…"

"To fill the void in his life, that Astra left behind," Ron said. "It's obvious that he was desperate for any friendship. And we were the first, as far as he knew. It was all a lie, when you think about it."

"Dumbledore didn't want him to be traumatized by that," Hermione murmured.

"There's no easy answers," Ron said. "When Dumbledore was wrong, he redefined the term. He made too many bad choices. So, are you going to be joining us?"

"Just give me a minute," Hermione said.

Hermione still had been a bit shaky. She wondered whatever glaring warning signs she missed. This entire book, everything from the bars on the windows to Dumbledore casually admitting he knew about Harry being made an unintentional Horcrux, it opened her eyes.

"Thanks for inviting me."

Andromeda Tonks appeared to meet her daughter and Harry. Nym just smiled at her mother.

"I have a feeling things might get a bit heated when Book Three progresses," Nym said.

"As much as I wish the timeline would be stable enough to send them all back, it's not quite right," Harry said. "We should get through one more book before deciding what to do. It's a crossroads."

"Admittedly, I want to know how the events of that year played out," Andromeda said. "What I've learned, only scratched the surface. And I'll be here to help tempers withhold."

Suddenly, Fred and George appeared and with them was a very surly looking Percy Weasley.

"You two!" Percy yelled. "You two are going to be in serious trouble for taking me. The Minister of Magic will find out that I'm gone."

"Oh, Fudge, I'm sure he's got more than enough trouble with that pickle jar," George said.

Ava appeared shaking her head, along with Zari who looked amused.

"Okay, that could have gone better," Ava said. "Not sure the bag over the head was necessary.."

"Good afternoon, Percy."

Percy turned to Harry suddenly and looked him over.

"Something's different about you," Percy murmured.

"Really, you haven't figured it out?" Harry asked. "Those twelve Outstanding OWLs are put to good use."

"Percy."

Percy turned around and came face to face with Ron.

"Ron?" Percy asked. "What happened? Who did this to you?"

"That would be telling," Ron said. "But, stick around and you'll find out. We're reading books. About Harry's life at Hogwarts."

"I'm not I would believe them," Percy said. "He's been lying about You-Know-Who…"

"We'll get to Voldemort later," Harry said. "And we're from the future. Well most of us are. The Ministry's at the height of their stupidity right now."

"Don't…don't talk about that like the Ministry," Percy said. "We're doing what we can to maintain the peace."

"Oh, we'll see about that," Harry said. "I'm hoping that I can open your eyes a little bit. All I ask of you is to keep an open mind. But, just think, there might be information which you can take back to your boss and really make him happy. And I know you can't resist that."

Percy looked gobsmacked for a few seconds and he turned to Fred and George.

"If this is a joke…."

"Do you see us laughing?" George asked. "Nothing is funny about what you've done."

"After what happened…."

Percy gasped and found himself tongue-tyed for a second.

"No spoiling the future, until it happens in the books," Harry said. "Good thing I like you a bit more than Snape. Because these charms can get very nasty."

Thirty-six people were ready to read. Harry mentally checked them off in his head.

There was Harry, naturally. Along with the original reading group of Kara, Lena, Nora, Sara, Zari, Ava, Mick, and Lita. John Constantine arrived a bit later.

Ron, Hermione, and the one and only(thankfully), Draco Malfoy was there. The always notorious Weasley twins joined them. The group from the past, in the Marauders, along with Lily appeared. Astra's mother, Natalie, joined the group as well. Four potentially future Death Eaters in the form of Bellatrix Black, Severus Snape, Regulus Black, and Bartemius Crouch Junior were there. The Greengrass sisters, Astoria and Daphne, had settled in for the reading. Nymphadora Tonks and her mother Andromeda. Two of Harry's daughters, Kate and Ruby, along with Kate's mother(and Hermione's) Charlotte settled in. Mia Queen, the second Green Arrow rounded up the group.

Oh, and Neville settled in. Although he was not making eye contact with anyone.

"I think that's everyone," Harry said. "Quite a group."

"This is…this breaks so many Ministry laws," Percy said. "And the fundamental laws of time travel."

"Actually, we've ensured that the least possible damage to the time stream can happen," Ava said.

"We're pros, we know what we're doing," Sara said. "Well, most of the time."

Mick just snorted.

"Percy, you need to know," Harry said.

"I will have to report this to the Ministry," Percy said.

"Yeah, good luck with that one," Malfoy said.

"So, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm ready."

"Yes," Astra said.

It felt like it had been forever since they got to read a chapter. Percy kept giving them looks of disapproval.

"Oh, you make my sister look like Fred and George," Kate said while rolling her eyes.

"I can't argue," Lita said with a grin.

"Seriously, mate, your face is going to freeze like that," John said. "Trust on that one."

"Alright, Gideon, ready when you are," Sara said.

"Of course, Captain Lance. Everyone get comfy so we can begin another adventure."

To Be Continued.