Written for...
Assignment 6 - Media Studies Task 4 - Pulp Fiction - Write a story that's told out of chronological order
Writing Club - Character Appreciation - 22. Order of the Phoenix
Writing Club - Disney Challenge - Giving up something important to you - Write about someone sacrificing something precious to them
Writing Club - Showtime - Class - (quote) "Ain't no justice in the world and there ain't nothing you can do about it."
Writing Club - CYB - (dialogue) "Don't believe everything you read."
Creativity Month - Prison!AU
Crafty Cooking - Mint - Era: Riddle
Insane House - 245. AU - Prison
An AU in which all Golden Trio characters are in the Riddle Era, as well as the Order of the Phoenix. This is kind of a Rebel!AU mixed with a Prison and Assassin!AU. Riddle is a tyrant, basically. There is no magic.
(Not a time travel fic)
"This is your new home, Neville Longbottom." The officer shoved him unceremoniously into the jail cell and slammed the door shut, a smug smirk plastered on his pudgy face. "Make yourself comfortable, because it's going to be a long six months."
Neville ground his teeth. "You will not break me, no matter how much you try."
"We'll see about that."
"Neville Longbottom, you are hereby sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Tom Riddle," the judge declared.
Neville did not struggle as he was dragged away, but sneered at the judge.
"He deserved to die. I have no regrets."
Neville spooned dry porridge into his mouth, grimacing at the taste. "Who made this, your grandmother?" he taunted.
Officer Boyd scowled. "Keep your cheeky comments to yourself," he snarled.
Neville smirked, chuckling mirthlessly. "Says the man who has worms for brains."
Officer Boyd drew himself up, towering imperiously over Neville, but the latter was not fazed in the slightest.
"Now listen here, Longbottom," said the officer snidely. "You may laugh and throw disparaging witticisms at me, but remember, you are no match for justice. Justice does not listen to your goading remarks, nor does it care. It rightfully isolates the bad from the good, and you rightfully belong in the former category. You have no room to be insolent, so just shut up and listen to your superiors!"
"Nice speech, Boyd," commented Neville idly, having long tuned out Boyd's voice. "How long did it take you to rehearse it?"
As Boyd spluttered, Neville stood and looked him in the eye, his own eyes hard. "Justice is not always correct," he said firmly. "You preach about it, you worship it so much, but it's flawed. Don't believe everything you read. Or see, for that matter. Ain't no justice in the world and there ain't nothing you can do about it."
He sat, satisfied, and watched as Boyd rapidly purpled.
Sirens wailed and flashing lights awakened the neighbors. The police rushed into the house in question and emerged ten minutes later with a man in handcuffs. Strangely, the man was smiling.
"I have accomplished my mission."
There was a loud explosion and debris rained down everywhere. Neville's clothes were singed and he was forced to shield his head with his arms, but he was grinning.
They came for me.
"You have a crucial task, Longbottom," Moody barked. "Infiltrate Riddle's tightly-knit circle of followers and when he lets his guard down, kill him."
"With pleasure, Lieutenant Moody. He tortured my parents. He murdered my friends. His death will be worth the repercussions. In addition, it will bring tremendous victory to the Order of the Phoenix."
Moody clapped his back, a small smile spreading across his gnarled face. "You're a true hero, Longbottom. And we will get you out of the prison, no matter what the costs. Now c'mere, we need to devise a plan to ensure Riddle doesn't get suspicious.
"We came for you, as we promised," Harry said, his forehead gleaming with perspiration but his eyes shining with triumph. "Now let's get outta here. I reckon Moody will have our heads if we're apprehended."
Neville laughed, pure unadulterated relief resonating within his body.
There was still so much to do, still so much to say. They weren't out in the clear yet; the police force would be hunting him down and placing a bounty on his head. It was not over yet.
But justice had been served.
581 words