A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Kari. You know who you are and you know why. (grins and winks) Thank you, Kari!

A/N2: There is a VOTE at the end of this chapter. Please look for it and read carefully. What you choose will have a BIG impact on the rest of the story! So don't forget the review this time; it's important!

Lessons: Inside and Out

The next day passed uneventfully, except for Potions. As was traditional, Neville melted his cauldron, but this time he did it on purpose so Severus could give him a detention so that he could have an uninterrupted lesson with Rowena Castle to help him train his Earth-elemental ability.

So late Wednesday afternoon, Neville made his way to the Entrance Hall. Severus sneered loudly for the benefit of anyone happening to pass by that Neville could harvest some of the more difficult potions ingredients for him in the forest. That done, he swooped out the main doors and onto the school's ground. He led the Gryffindor toward the Forbidden Forest and Neville followed silently. He didn't even question his teacher when they turned and followed the edge of the forest toward the back of the school.

When they got to an area of the castle that had relatively few windows, Severus had them cut quickly back over the school grounds. They reached a wall to a courtyard, but when Neville touched it at Severus' direction, a door appeared. Severus hurried them inside. The courtyard was smooth bare earth with a few rosebushes. There were three benches and one old tree. Rowena stood in the center, waiting patiently.

"Neville! How nice to see you again!" The girl said happily, coming forward to hug him.

Neville now stood an inch taller than the girl and hugged her awkwardly. "Hello."

"How is the meditation going?" She asked as she sat gracefully and patted the ground in front of her. Severus went to sit unobtrusively on a bench as the Gryffindor sat where directed.

"Better." Neville blushed.

"Why don't we get started, then?" She smiled. "I'm going to drop into meditation with you, and then I will talk you through the beginnings of relinquishing the block you have on your magic."

"A block?" Neville asked, confused.

"An Elemental who doesn't realize the magic they possess will get confused. They're perceptions of magic is different than an average wizard and so what they are being told and taught does not match what they sense. Therefore, they push away the confusing sensations, leaving only the bare essentials of their magic for use. Now. Begin entering the meditative trance, but keep the knowledge that I will be talking to you in the back of your mind. I will need you to respond to me."

"Okay." Neville shifted nervously and closed his eyes.

He hadn't practiced in almost a week and a half, but it came to him easily from all the hours he spent practicing with Severus. Slowly he let his preconceptions of self and reality break away, allowing his awareness to still and expand outward. This continued until he lost all thought and became only sensation.

From a distance, he heard a soft voice. It fell on him like rain and he understood every other drop. But the rain kept falling and he knew that was what he was supposed to do. Fall. Touch downward and feel. But he had trained himself deeply to look straight and toward the sky. It was like he was avoiding looking down at a great chasm that he knew would swallow him until he ceased to exist at all.

The fear threatened to pull him back toward his body, toward human awareness and out of the trance. So he let it go. There was no such thing as non-existence. Life didn't end. It just transformed into different things. He sunk into warmth and life and potential. He could feel the slow steady warmth flowing through roots and dirt; could feel himself cradle a million pockets of life, some insects and some animals. He sheltered and provided for a huge city teaming with life and light, and every eternity the earth's heart beat, sending deep vibrations slowly rolling across the world.

It filled him until the roots became his veins, and it was his fingers pushing up to swallow the sunlight. It was his flesh sheltering and providing for the small, precious lives that lived within him. And every eternity his heart beat and the slow pulse filled the universe with living heat. He wiggled his fingers in joy, stretched and settled, deep and indomitable.

"NEVILLE!"

The screamed word shattered his perceptions and the teen arched off the ground with an agonized gasp. He was trapped, small and fragile. Cold, so cold, and hands were pushing at him. He was weak and the setting sun… why wasn't it filling him up? Primal terror, not knowing who or what he was…

"Neville!"

xXxXxXx

Severus watched as the two meditated. He had been waiting for almost two hours when the ground rolled gently and settled. The bushes grew and swelled, flushing with life. He was amazed, but not yet aware something was wrong until Rowena's eyes opened and she gasped. Severus was running to his side before she said a word.

"I've lost him! He went too deep!"

He looked over at the teen who had slumped to the ground on his side. He wasn't breathing. Severus dove for him and brought his fingers to the boy's throat. There was no pulse. Snapping out his wand, Severus cast several Ennervate's, but they had no effect. Rowena was screaming the boy's name. Terrified and furious, Severus slammed his fists down on the teen's chest. Neville gasped, and Severus was shoved aside as the boy began to panic. His eyes… Merlin, they were black; completely black with no whites, iris, or pupil. Sobbing and hyperventilating, Neville lashed out with his arms and legs. He clawed at the ground, as if trying to burrow into it. Rowena was talking to him, trying to pin his limbs. Severus dove on the teen, trying to help.

Neville slowly stopped fighting and whining in agony. His racing heart calmed and the black bled from his eyes. Rowena was cradling him, singing and rocking, and he lay limp in her arms. He was silent and just stared at the castle, but could not really see it. Severus was shaken to his core. He had no idea what just happened or what to do to fix it. The castle door opened and he jumped to his feet defensively. He feared the headmaster had sensed the strange magic and they were discovered.

Harry stared at him for only a moment before running to Neville's side. "Brother?" He asked, his voice quivering with fear. "Nev? Can you hear me?"

Rowena fell silent and Severus frowned as Harry began petting Neville's head. They could both feel the boy using magic from here, but he didn't have a wand and he wasn't speaking. Whatever he was doing, every pass of Harry's hand made Neville's eyes clear just a bit more.

Harry smiled down at his best friend as he continued to reverse his empathy to project calm and confidence. He had been on the way to dinner when he felt his brother's pain and insanity. There had been no mental boundaries, nothing to ground Neville's thoughts. The most instinctual knowledge of things like gravity was completely gone. It was a horrifying sensation. He had run as fast as he could and was now trying to give Neville a foundation, remind him of boundaries and reality.

Neville reached for Harry and the teen grabbed his hand tightly. The panic and confusion slowly dissipated as memories trickled in. He remembered being human; a boy and wizard. Very slowly, he remembered who he was. It felt like shedding all four of his limbs and willingly getting into a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He cried, but pulled the pieces of himself back together.

"Are you alright, Nev?" Harry whispered.

"Yeah. I'm fine, Harry." Neville answered dully. He wanted more than anything to be with the Earth again. It was a screaming need that he could hardly think around.

"It'll pass, Neville." Rowena said softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't catch you in time before you went too far. I promise it won't be like that ever again."

Harry gasped as Neville's emotions screamed into him from deep in his guts, but he never stopped petting his friend's hair. "He despairs. He wants to go back so badly. It's killing him to hold himself together."

"No!" Rowena clutched Neville to her. "Oh, no, sweetheart. You don't have to close yourself off again. Keep yourself open, but don't dissolve completely."

"Make a window, Longbottom." Severus offered.

"Yes. Good idea. Make a window in your heart. Through that window will stream earth, life, and sunlight."

Neville looked desperate and confused, but Severus and Rowena coached him through leaving a link open between himself and the earth. His eyes widened in disbelief and joy. He could feel the slow heartbeat. He could feel the plants in the courtyard and the sun filled him once again. He sobbed in grateful relief and Harry cried with him. Rowena smiled down on them.

"That was a disaster." Severus scowled at the phantom.

"I'm sorry." Rowena's smile disappeared and she truly looked miserable. "It just happened so fast. He was resisting completely and then without warning he was diving past me and disappeared into the earth."

"It will not happen again." He glared at her.

"No." She promised. "It will not happen ever again."

"Good." He turned to look at the two Gryffindors who were still pulling themselves together. "Can you two stand?"

"Yes, sir." Harry smiled shakily. He got to his feet and reached down to help Neville up. The teen looked a wreck.

"Neville, you need a shower. Harry, you need to return to dinner. We don't want the Headmaster wondering where you are."

"Yes, Severus." Harry took Neville by the hand and led him back into the castle.

Severus stared accusingly at Rowena for a minute before following them. The phantom frowned and stared over at the vibrant roses blooming on the now very healthy bushes. Neville's power was deep. Deeper than she had ever encountered, but she was certain nothing like this would happen again. Neville wouldn't fall so deeply now that he understood the risk. But it worried her. Harry said he craved to return. Most Elementalists craved the connection to their element, but never that badly. She would have to be careful and watch the teen vigilantly.

xXxXxXx

Ron, Hermione (who was eating again, but would glare at anyone who remarked on it), and Harry came back from dinner to find Neville still sitting by himself in front of the fire. Hermione frowned. She knew Neville had detention, but their friend was in a state of almost nervous collapse. Snape had gone too far. Evidently Ron agreed with her.

"You know why Snape is in such a foul mood, don't you?" He asked Harry as they watched Hermione teach Neville a Scouring Charm to remove the dirt he couldn't get out from under his fingernails. "It's cause of Moody."

"Yeah." Harry agreed, but unlike Ron or Hermione he knew Snape's hostility toward the Defense Professor wasn't because of the supposed common knowledge that Severus wanted the DADA position. He knew the real reason Severus couldn't stand Moody was because the ex-Auror wouldn't stop harassing his Slytherins and none of the other professors were doing anything about it.

They'd occasionally scold the man or stare disapprovingly, but no one actually did anything about it. Not even Dumbledore. Harry was baffled by this behavior. He was aware of the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor, but he hadn't realized the Snake House was so universally ill-treated. He had always assumed Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were neutral. He had been wrong. They may not do anything to antagonize Slytherins themselves, but they would not step in on behalf of one, when they would step in on behalf of a victimized Gryffindor.

Gabriel often grumbled angrily about this and asked to be let Out to call them on their prejudice, but Silas still thought it was a bad idea for Gabriel to come Out before they got the spell off him. Harry agreed, so the Gryffindor alter was left to grumble. Harry felt bad, but he couldn't yell at Moody like Gabriel wanted him to. He didn't want to upset anyone, but he did what he could to try to encourage a more understanding perspective toward the Slytherin students. But it was slow going; especially since all the upperclassmen that already had a class with Moody were impressed in the ex-Auror's favor.

Harry also didn't like the way Ron and Hermione spoke poorly of Severus, but when he tried to point all this out to them, they just said the Slytherins deserved it or it made up for the blatant favoritism of Severus toward his own House. They pointed out how the Slytherins were bullies and reminded Harry how much they cheated and fouled during Quidditch.

Neville saw what Harry was saying, but Ron and Hermione just couldn't see it, so the brunette had stopped trying. He decided that if he could loosen the prejudice against Slytherin's in general, then they'd be better prepared to see Severus' behavior in a more understanding light. Mostly, he felt bad for them and hoped they'd eventually realize that Moody's treatment was too extreme for the childish wrongs that the Slytherins had committed against them.

"I reckon Snape's a bit scared of him, you know?" Hermione said, coming over to sit with them.

"I'm going to bed." Harry sighed. Neville said he'd come too, but Ron and Hermione just shook their heads at him with bemused smiles. They thought he was too nice for his own good.

Harry sighed again and went up to bed. As he sunk into bed and pulled his covers up to his chin, he considered talking to Neville about the topic that was constantly hovering at the back of his mind. He bit his lip. It was bothering him; he was not really sure if he should be more upset or not upset at all about the discovery he was an alter born from Silas, and he wanted to talk about it, but… But he didn't want to add to Neville's burdens. He could feel the strain and fog of shock still lingering in his best-friend's mind.

"Nev?" He called gently.

"Yeah?" The other teen answered sleepily. "Wha?"

Harry chickened out, "Want to work on the Animagus Potion this weekend?"

"Sure." Neville yawned and rolled over.

"Night." Harry sighed silently and closed his eyes.

xXxXxXx

The next day, the fourth year Gryffindors were buzzing with excitement. All the upper classmen had been talking non-stop about how great Moody's classes were and they were going to have their first class with him that afternoon. Harry was actually pretty nervous about it. So was Neville. But all the others were practically bouncing in their seats they were so excited. The room descended into silence as the class held their breath, waiting in anxiously for Professor Moody to arrive. Harry looked to his left and saw Neville staring down at his book. To Harry's right, Ron was turned halfway around in his seat so that he was facing the door in the back of the room. Hermione on Ron's other side was grumbling as she organized her parchment, ink, quill, and book in front of her.

He was about to say something to her, maybe ask about what she was studying so obsessively (she had almost been late for this class!), when he heard the clunk of Moody's wooden leg coming down the hall toward the classroom. The class became even stiller and almost everybody's eye was on the door.

Moody entered, scowling at all of them, looking fearsome. "You can put those books away. You won't need them," he growled.

Excited glances passed around the room as they all bent to put away their books. Hermione kept out her parchment and quill, however. Harry smiled at her and she smiled back. Moody began to call roll, his normal eye scanning the list in front of him while the magical one rolled widely in its socket as it scanned the students and room. Morbidly impressed, most of the class pressed forward eagerly.

"Right then," Moody put away the roll sheet and stood at sharp attention in front of the fourth year Gryffindors. "I've ha a letter from Professor Lupin about this class. Seems you've had a pretty thorough grounding in tackling Dark creatures – is that right?"

The class murmured assent.

"But you're behind – very behind – on dealing with curses. So I'm here to bring you up to scratch on what wizards can do to each other. I've got one year to teach you how to deal with Dark – "

"What, aren't you staying?" Ron blurted out.

Moody stared at Ron, making the redhead sink a bit in his seat, before smiling widely. The class leaned away involuntarily. Moody's heavily scarred face looked even more frightening when he smiled than when he glared. "You'll be Arthur Weasley's son, eh?" The man came to stand right in front of the teen. "Your father got me out of a very tight corner a few days ago… Yeah, I'm staying just the one year. Special favor to Dumbledore." He gave a harsh laugh and clapped his hands before returning to the center of the room. "So – straight to it. Curses…"

The class grew more excited as Moody explained he'd not be molly-coddling them, and that he had Dumbledore's permission to demonstraight some of the Darkest curses in existence. Lavender got caught passing notes in the middle and the class grew even more impressed as Moody displayed his ability to see through objects, for example the table hiding Lavender and Parvati's notes. When questioned, Ron was able to name one of the Unforgivable Curses, the Imperius Curse.

"Ah, yes," Moody nodded appreciatively. "Your father would know that one. Gave the Ministry a lot of trouble at one time." As he was talking, he was moving behind his desk. The class watched as he opened a drawer and took out a glass jar. Ron recoiled with a gasp as three spiders skulked around inside. Moody grinned at the class and caught one of the insects. "Watch closely," He said as he held the spider aloft in his palm. "Imperio!"

The spider began doing tricks that no spider would ever naturally perform. As it did gymnastics, the class laughed. Only Harry and Neville sat silent and solemn. They understood the implications. Moody was quick to demonstraight to the rest of the class how horrific the spell was, making the spider fling itself ruthlessly at the glass window, threatening to make it jump to it's death. The teenagers watched solemnly as he returned the spider to the jar.

"The Imperius Curse can be fought," He growled at the silent class, "…and I'll be teaching you how, but it takes real strength of character, and not everyone's got it. Better avoid being hit with it if you can. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He barked and everyone jumped. He stared out at them and then asked calmly, "Anyone know another Unforgivable?"

Hermione's hand flew into the air and so did Neville's. Harry was surprised. Not about Neville knowing the answer, Neville had long ago told him about his parents after all, but he was surprised that he was volunteering to speak up in class. It seemed Moody's intense teaching style had shaken his brother out of his numb state. In fact, Neville's looked surprised as well and he was about to put his hand down when Moody called on him.

"There's one – the Cruciatus Curse." Neville answered in soft, clear voice.

"Your name's Longbottom?" Moody asked, his magical eye looking the teen up and down while the normal one bore into Neville's dark brown eyes.

Neville nodded nervously. Harry knew his friend didn't want it to be common knowledge about his parents, but Moody moved on without comment. Turning back to the class at large, he reached into the jar for the next spider. Ron jerked further back when the professor enlarged it to be the size of two fists.

"Crucio!"

At once, the spider began to convulse in sharp agonized twitches. The desk rattled as it rocked and thrashed. Harry went pale and Neville began to breathe heavily. Time slowed as the shock hit the class. The seconds felt like hours as the spider continued to writhe in agony. Harry could almost imagine the screams of agony that the spell would rip brutally from a human throat.

"Stop it!" Hermione said shrilly.

Her voice broke the spell and time resumed its normal course. The class was horrified and Harry was trembling with it. He knew his face was pale and a cold sweat has broken out on his brow. He looked over at Neville and found his best-friend staring blankly. He looked devoid of life and Harry could sense no emotion in him. Neville had retreated once again behind the numb insulation provided by his mind to protect him.

"Reducio." Moody muttered and the spider shrank back to its proper size. "Pain. You don't need thumbscrews or knives to torture someone if you can perform the Cruciatus Curse… That one was very popular once too." He gently slipped the spider back into the jar where it twitched weakly. He looked around the class and waited for them to collect themselves. "Anyone know the last?"

"The Killing Curse." Hermione answered shakily; no one else had volunteered. In fact, several people looked frightened, including Ron who turned to Harry worriedly. Harry's stared back, green eyes wide with trepidation.

"Ah," Moody came and stood in front of Harry. He looked down at the brunette with an almost gentle expression. "The Killing Curse. It's not nice. Not pleasant. And there's no countercurse. There's no blocking it. Only one known person has ever survived it, and he's sitting right in front of me."

Harry stared at him, his heart beginning to beat fast. He gripped the edge of the desk tightly. He felt light behind his eyes, not all there. Maybe he'd slip and another alter would come Out? But if he was afraid, that would trigger Boy and he didn't want Boy to come Out when all his classmates and Professor Moody would be there to witness the terrorized alter.

Moody turned back to the desk and removed the last spider. As soon as the professor placed it on his desk, it tried to scuttle away, as if knowing its fate. Ron grabbed Harry's hand under the desk as Moody yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" There was a flash of blinding green light and a rushing sound – instantly the spider rolled over onto its back, unmarked, but unmistakably dead. For a split second, he felt something respond, distant and deep, and cold swept through his soul. Then he was released and his brain kicked in again and a single thought rolled through his mind.

So that was how Mum and Dad died.

Fat tears burned his eyes and, for the first time, really truly began to grieve their parent's death. He hunched over his desk and brought his hands up to his face as he sobbed, quietly. Neville had awoken enough to put an arm around him and Ron was rubbing his back, his face so pale every last freckle could be seen. Hermione sat shocked, hands trembling and mouth slightly open as she stared at the dead spider.

"The Killing Curse needs a powerful bit of magic behind it." Moody explained, ignoring Harry's sobs for now. Half the class was able to drag their attention back to their professor, but the rest continued to either watch the spider or Harry. "You could all get your wands out now and point them at me and say the words, and I doubt I'd get so much as a nosebleed. But that doesn't matter. I'm not here to teach you how to do it.

"Now, if I'm not going to teach it to you and there is no countercurse, then why am I showing it to you? Because you need to know. You've got to appreciate what the worst is. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you're facing it. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He roared and the whole class jumped. Harry's head even snapped up, tears still pouring from his deep green eyes. "Now… those curses are called Unforgivable for a reason. The use of any one of them on a fellow human being is enough to earn a life sentence in Azkaban. That's what you're up against. That's what I've got to teach you to fight. You need preparing. You need arming. But most of all, you need to practice constant, never-ceasing vigilance. Get out your quills… copy this down…"

The rest of the class period was spent copying down notes on each Unforgivable. Neville and Harry sat leaning against each other, both lost in their own thoughts and realizations. Every few minutes, the silent class would hear the small brunette sniff and take a shuddering breath. The silence only held until the bell rang and Moody dismissed them.

Most people were discussing the curses in awed voices – "Did you see it twitch?", "…and when he killed it – just like that!" They were talking about the lesson as if it were some kind of show, but he and his friends didn't find it entertaining in the least. They walked away shakily and stopped when they came to a stop halfway up the passage.

"Neville?" Hermione asked gently.

"Interesting lesson, wasn't it?" The teen answered, his voice high and thin. "I wonder what's for dinner, I'm – I'm starving, aren't you?"

"Nev…" Harry choked and fell against Neville's chest, crying again as he clung to his brother.

Hermione was hugging them both, but before she could ask why Neville had reacted so strongly, they heard the clunking noise of Moody approaching. All four of them went silent, Ron took a step forward so that he was in front of his friends protectively, but when Moody stopped in front of him and spoke, it was with a much gentler voice than any of them had heard him use before.

"It's alright, boys. Why don't you come up to my office? Come on… we can have a cup of tea…" Neville looked frightened at the prospect and Harry looked up at their professor with exhausted, grief heavy eyes. Moody's magical eye quivered and almost defensively he said, "You've got to know. It seems harsh, maybe, but you've got to know. No point pretending… well… come on, Longbottom, Potter. I've got some books that might interest you."

Hermione and Ron watched as their two friends were led upstairs by a gnarled hand on each boy's shoulder. Ron looked over at Hermione worriedly, "What do you think that's about?"

"I don't know." She continued to stare after them pensively.

"Some lesson, though, eh?" He asked, subtly guiding her away and toward the Great Hall. "Fred and George were right, weren't they? He really knows his stuff, Moody, doesn't he? When he did the Killing Curse, the way that spider just died, just snuffed it right – " Ron fell suddenly silent as he caught the dangerous look on Hermione's face. They walked the rest of the way without speaking.

xXxXxXx

Silas sat down on the couch and ran a slightly trembling hand through his hair. Gabriel looked pale and shaken as well. Both shot weary glances at Demon's heavy stone door. They had watched as Moody demonstrated the Unforgivables and both had been grimly silent as the Killing Curse had come. Neither had expected to hear Demon push on his door. Silas had jumped to his feet and thrown himself against the door, keeping it shut.

Gabriel slammed right next to him, helping, as Boy began to wail. The child's cry of fear rose in pitch, never breaking off, sounding like a siren, screaming of danger. Demon's door rattled once more before stilling as if nothing had changed. They had leaned against it for the rest of the class period just in case, but nothing happened. Demon was sleeping once more, dreaming hellish dreams of blood on his hands and death and destruction all around him.

"What was that?" Gabriel asked tightly.

"I can only guess, but I think Demon responded so strongly to the Killing Curse because that's what he is made from. The back wash of the spell awakened him and called him forward." Silas sat straight and tense. "Like calls to like."

"That's not good." Gabriel scowled. "I can't afford Demon coming Out in the middle of a battle with some bastard Death Eaters just because they start flinging around Killing Curses. He'd kill allies and innocents as well as the enemy."

"I know." Silas nodded. "But we were able to hold him in."

"True." Gabriel sighed.

"I haven't decided if I'm still talking to Severus, but I could ask him if there is anything we can do to subdue Demon."

"You're still mad at him for revealing the truth?" Gabriel lifted an eyebrow. "Harry had to know sooner or later."

"Yes, but it was handled very inelegantly." Silas sneered. "How would you like such an important fact about your life to be made known to you because of a slip of the tongue?"

"I would rather know." Gabriel insisted stubbornly. He uncrossed his arms and his blue eyes became serious. "Look, Sy. I think there are people who deserve anger more than Severus. How about Voldemort? Huh? Did you see what that spell did? He killed our parents, Sy! He needs to pay for that!"

"And you're going to punish him, are you?" Silas hissed, eyes slitted with anger.

"Don't tell me you don't care." Gabriel growled.

"I care, but we won't gain anything by battling the Dark Lord. It won't get them back or make it so it didn't happen. All we'd be doing is risking ourselves."

"And preventing it from happening again." Gabriel ground out. "Alright. We don't agree, let's leave that for now. How about Dumbledore? The bastard fucking put a spell on me! He's chained me up so he could use me!"

"We will remove the spell." Silas' voice was cold as ice. "And we will make sure nothing happens like that again. We need leverage or a way to protect ourselves from his power and influence."

"Why can't we just attack him?" Gabriel yelled.

"And what?" Silas hissed. "Kill him? Do you want to go to Azkaban?"

Gabriel growled, but dropped the subject. "Look, we were talking about Severus. I really don't think his actions warrants punishment. Annoyance, yes, but punishment's a little extreme."

Silas stared coldly, but allowed the tension to roll off him. Fighting with the stupid Gryffindor would gain him nothing. Instead, he smiled wryly at the other alter, "Never thought you'd be such a staunch defender of the Head of Slytherin."

"Yeah, well…" Gabriel glared. "I can face the facts. Severus is on our side and he didn't intentionally hurt Harry."

"Alright." Silas conceded. "I recognize his usefulness. I won't punish him too severely."

"So you'll ask him about Demon?"

"I'll confer with him, yes." Silas nodded and reached up to tuck his silky hair behind his ear. "First, I think I'll visit the library. I have much to research. Your collar, the two spells Dumbledore reversed and blended, and now some kind of failsafe to keep Demon contained."

"Good luck!" Gabriel laughed, his anger bleeding away. He did not envying Silas the book work.

"Thanks." Silas sneered back.

xXxXxXx

Professor Moody's office was cluttered with all kinds of objects, books, and trunks. The man went behind his desk and sat down with a relieved sigh. He propped his crippled leg up and rubbed at it with one hand and gestured them to take seats across from him with the other. Harry and Neville did as they were told and were surprised at how comfortable they were.

"I'm sorry that you had to see the curses that have affected your lives." Moody finally spoke. He waved his wand and dinner and tea appeared on the desk. He pushed some toward the teens and sat back. "War is a difficult and painful thing. Everyone loses something in a war, some more than most."

Harry gulped and stared at the hands in his lap. He couldn't stop imagining his parents, dead and unblemished, brought down by cold green light. Neville was feeling the intimate pain he always felt when he had to visit his parents and see them sitting there, drooling and unaware. Moody cleared his throat and captured the boys' attention.

"I have heard high praise from Professor Sprout, Neville. She says she has never had a student as talented in Herbology as you are, and coming from Madam Sprout that is high praise indeed."

Neville blushed with the praise and looked away.

"I was pleased when I heard this." Moody continued. "Go to that shelf over there. Do you see the book on top? The one with the brown cover. Grab it for me." Neville did as he was told and returned with the book. Moody waved for him to keep it. "I was given that book a long time ago and can't make heads or tails of it really. I've never been one for reading, much less plants. But I trust the person who gave it to me and they say it is very good. I want you to have it. Your hands are more capable than mine in the subject."

The numb cloud in Neville's mind was thinning and he gaped at his professor in surprise. "But, sir!"

"None of that." Moody said firmly. "I don't need it, boy. You keep it for me and make good use of it."

Neville nodded and looked down at the cover: Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean. He smiled brightly. "This is a good book, sir!"

"I'm glad." Moody smiled and turned his attention to Harry. The professor stared at him intently, his magical eye still for once. "It's not good to bottle up your pain, Potter. You should grieve. Even if you can't remember your parents, they were good people and there is no shame in mourning your loss."

Harry ducked his head, flushing.

Moody shifted his gaze to take in both of them. "Your parents would be proud of both of you. Neville, your mother loved plants and gardening. She would be impressed with your talent and would have taken pleasure in sharing in your knowledge. Your father would have laughed with you over your more clumsy moments. He was just like you when he was your age, but grew out of it by the time he hit sixteen.

"Potter, you have accomplished great things at this school, as Dumbledore tells me. Your parents would have been proud of that. But I think your mother and father would have been proudest of your friends. They always cherished loyalty and friendship above even bravery, and your care for your friends would make them proud."

Harry nodded, tears spilling down his face. Neville reached over to clasp his hand.

Moody nodded and abruptly stood. "I have a book here. It's dry reading about Aurors, but both your mother and father are mentioned several times."

"Thank you." Harry took the book and smiled sweetly.

Moody grunted, obviously uncomfortable, and changed the topic, drilling them about what they've learned in DADA the past three years. When lunch was over, he released them and Neville and Harry left feeling much better than when they had walked in.

"Want to visit, Remus?" Neville asked, brown eyes warm for the first time in days.

"Sure." Harry smiled and followed his friend across the school to the History of Magic office.

Remus was very pleased to see them and hugged them both tightly. They brushed over Defense class, not wanting to get upset again, and explained what happened when Moody took them back to his office. Remus assured them both that Moody was absolutely correct about their parents and smiled as Neville eagerly began flipping though the book Moody gave him, stopping every other page to tell them something interesting. Remus smiled warmly and put a hand on Neville's head, leaving it there for several minutes. The teen smiled back at him and Harry luxuriated in the positive emotions, letting it dull his grief and worries.

They didn't return to the tower until almost curfew. Ron was sitting in the Common Room, working on Divination. Harry and Neville joined him and soon the boys were making up answers for their assignment. They laughed as they got more and more creative, squabbling good-naturedly over the best gloomy predictions.

It was actually a half-hour after curfew when Hermione climbed through the portrait hole. The boys had just finished their Divination and were yawning when she came over saying, "I've finished!"

"What's in the box?" Neville asked obligingly since she was lifting it for them to see.

"Funny you should ask." She smiled at them, opening the box and handing it over for them to see. Inside were about fifty badges, all of different colors, but all bearing the same letters: S.P.E.W.

"Spew?" Harry asked curiously.

"Not spew," she said impatiently. "It's S.P.E.W. Stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."

"Never heard of it." Ron admitted.

"Well, of course you haven't. I've only just started it."

"Yeah?" The redhead took up a badge to look at it more carefully. "How many members have you got?"

"Well – if you three join – four." She smiled and it wasn't pretty. The boys cringed away from her. "I've been researching it thoroughly in the library. Elf enslavement goes back centuries. I can't believe no one's done anything about it before now."

"Hermione – open your ears!" Ron cried, exasperated and throwing the badge back in the box in disgust. "They. Like. It. They like being enslaved."

Hermione ignored him and continued to explain what each of their jobs would be and the short and long-term goals for the group. Harry and Neville shared a glance. On one hand, they knew Omi really did enjoy his life. On the other, enslavement was bad and there were some elves abused. Like Dobby was.

"Maybe we can compromise." Harry suggested, breaking into the argument between friends. "Really, Hermione, you can't expect elves to give up what they honestly enjoy doing. They like being attached to Households and taking care of people and the home. But you have a point that they are completely without choice and means to leave a family that is abusive. Maybe the goal shouldn't be to remove them from their duties, but to somehow come up with a way for elves to choose the family and have an option to leave and find a new family should they wish too."

"Harry's right." Neville supported his friend even though Hermione was glowering at them. "They would be insulted if you continue to campaign for them to be paid or given clothes. It would be like Harry paying you for doing research. You're his friend and you would help him if he needed it without money or other favors."

"Of course!" She huffed.

"Well, it's the same thing here." Ron said smugly. "They honestly care about their homes and the families they work for. They help because it makes them happy!"

"You could maybe watch the elves here." Harry suggested. "Really watch them without judgment. See their culture and then find a way to make their lives better in a way they will appreciate."

"Alright!" Hermione huffed and grabbed her box. "I'll think about it."

The boys said nothing until their friend was well out of hearing range and up in the girl's dorm. Ron sighed in relief and clapped Harry on the back, "Good going, mate! I thought we were in for it for a moment there!"

Neville shook his head, "She means well, but sometimes she can be a bit overzealous. Remember all the classes she was taking last year? She almost killed herself doing that."

"And was biting our heads off for it!" Ron exclaimed. "Why do we always end up suffering right along with her?"

"Cause she's our friend." Harry shrugged with a small smile.

"Since when have you been so smart?" Ron laughed, grabbing Harry and ruffling his hair.

"Stop!" Harry laughed and shoved him away.

"Come on." Neville stood and reached down to pull Harry to his feet. "It's late."

"Yeah." Ron yawned and grinned. "I can't wait to see what Trelawney gives us for our assignment!"

xXxXxXx

That night, without waking any of his roommates, Silas snuck out of the dorm under the invisibility cloak and made his way to the library. The hallways were deserted and he easily avoided Filch. The library doors were locked, but he had long ago learned how to deal with the problem and a few minutes of subtle, untraceably spellwork later, he was slipping into the dark room and starting his research in earnest.

Chapter end

A/N: VOTE: Alright, I have a big announcement to make! The time for Gabriel to reintegrate with one of the fractions is approaching! But I can see it happening either way, so I thought I'd ask you guys what you thought. These are the choices.

Silas and Gabriel merge. The Core will then take the new name Sable to signify this change.

Together the personality will be that of a ruthless Slytherin with a hero-complex. He will want to protect innocents and have a tendency to support the underdog (hates bullying and oppression), but will fight with as much cunning and planning as reckless assaults. He will also be more likely to lash out verbally when annoyed or angry, than with spells and hexes. Obviously, he'll be a bit more quick tempered, but he will still keep a fairly calm mask in public, only opening up around those he trusts (mainly Severus and Neville). He will be prone to holding grudges and taking revenge through pranks and humiliation. He will not lose any of Silas' intelligence or Gabriel's combat abilities and skills. Basically, he'll be an alter-ego for sweet Harry.

As for relationships, he will admit to looking up to Severus and enjoying his company. He will feel very close to Neville, very protective, looking on him as a close friend. Remus and Silas will be accepted, but he will not tolerate either of them putting him in danger or hurting him. Ron and Hermione he will tolerate, but will mostly get annoyed with their immaturity. He will not trust easy, but will be open to new individuals if they prove themselves. He will not forgive betrayals easily. As for his feelings about their parent's death, he will be furious and want to take Voldemort down, but will prefer to do it without face-to-face confrontation, though he won't cower away if it is the only option. He feels only a bit less hatred for Dumbledore, but will stalk him from a distance, reluctant to confront him face-to-face as well.

Harry and Gabriel merge. He will still be called Harry.

Personality wise, Harry will become more confident. He will be less insecure and more aggressive, but he won't stop feeling the strong love and care he has for others. He will be steady and soft spoken, but able. A leader, I guess. He will always want to help other people out, even if they don't ask for it. Gabriel's combat skill won't be lost, Harry will enjoy training and not be so reluctant to hurt his opponent or practice partner, but he won't be quite as ruthless about it. Nor will he gloat or revel in his power as Gabriel sometimes did. Harry will still be companionate and kind to a fault. He will be prone to forgiveness, but he won't let people walk all over him. He'll have a temper, but it will take a LOT for him to hate someone.

He will love Neville, Severus, Remus, and Sirius the same. He will still care for Ron and Hermione, but he will confront them abut their prejudices and encourage them to change and grow-up a little. He will feel bad about hurting other people's feelings, but he won't be afraid of it. He will also include and try to befriend other people in Gryffindor and other Houses. As for their enemies, he is angry and hurt over his parents being murdered and angry with Dumbledore for manipulating him, but will mostly react defensively to both of them. Meaning, once he's pressed he will fight and fight hard, but he will wait for battle to be brought to him. He will try to solve problems without actually battle if he can. But he will not hesitate to protect others and himself.

So those are your two choices. I tried to be a specific as I could to make sure you all know what exactly you're voting for. In any case, review and let me know that you think!