Harry sat at her place at the dining room table, slowly stabbing at her bacon. Neither Mrs. Longbottom nor Neville had shown up for breakfast. The girl couldn't help but feel guilty for the row that she heard last night. If she hadn't kissed Neville, then none of that would have happened.
She sighed and then pushed the plate away from her.
"Is Miss finished with breakfast?" Darcy asked from next to her. Harry nodded and then the plate vanished.
Neville then came into the room. He looked tired and he was covered in dirt.
"Neville, what on earth?" the girl asked, taking in the young man's appearance.
"I just had to blow off a little steam after fighting with Gran. I assume that you heard, judging by how cheerful you look."
Harry looked downwards and then nodded. She sat back down and Neville sat next to her. The young woman watched him eat, having nothing better to do in all truth.
"I'm sorry…" Harry said once her friend was finally finished.
"For what?" Neville asked, raising an eyebrow.
"For getting you into trouble."
"Not your fault. Remember, I kissed you first."
"On the cheek."
"Only natural that you would react like that. I was counting on it."
Harry rolled her eyes.
"Did Gran come down to eat?" Neville asked, trying not to sound hopeful but failing miserably.
Harry shook her head, "Nope."
"Ah. I guess I should go check on her. It isn't like her to miss a meal…" Neville said as he got up, wiping his mouth with his napkin. "I will be back in a few minutes."
The teen walked a couple of steps away, but then walked back. Harry looked at him quizzically for a moment before she realized that a kiss was being lightly placed on her forehead. The young man then walked away.
Harry blinked rapidly for a moment and then burst into laughter.
((The Pretender))
Neville knocked on the door to his grandmother's room. "Gran, you in there? It is time for breakfast!"
He waited for a response, but when he got none, he opened the door and poked his head in. "Gran?" he asked, scanning the room.
He saw his grandmother in her favourite chair, still wearing her dark green nightdress. The book she had been reading had fallen to the floor and her head was resting against the back of the chair.
"Gran, wake up." Neville said as he walked forward into the room, making his way to his grandmother.
He finally reached her and held out his hand. He placed it on her shoulder. She didn't move. He shook her slightly. She didn't move. Finally, he placed two fingers on her neck, checking for a pulse.
There was none.
Neville let out a scream.
((The Pretender))
As soon as Harry heard the scream she rushed out of the dining room and hurdled through out the halls, looking for the source. She finally found Neville in his grandmother's room, the young man huddled up at his grandmother's feet sobbing.
"Neville? Neville, what happened?" she asked softly, a great feeling of dread running through her veins. Why wasn't Mrs. Longbottom doing anything to calm her distressed grandson?
"She's dead! She's dead!" Neville said, his voice cracking, "Gran's dead!"
"Oh Merlin." Harry said, eyes going wide. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "Darcy! Darcy, get in here right now, it's urgent!"
The Elf appeared and looked from Neville's sobbing form at Mrs. Longbottom's feet and then to Harry. The girl could feel the tears tracking down her own cheeks, but she sniffed and kept her voice firm, "Darcy, Mrs. Longbottom has passed away. Contact Remus Lupin and Severus Snape immediately."
Darcy looked back at his masters and then nodded gravely. "Darcy will do as Miss tells. Darcy suggests Miss gets Master out of the room. Take care of Master…" the Elf's voice then trailed off and with a small 'pop' he was gone.
Harry made her way to Neville and wrapped her arms around him the best she could.
"Neville, we need to get out of this room. I will make you some tea, okay? Remus and Severus are coming. We need you to get your wits back."
"No. I can't leave her. I can't." Neville muttered over and over again. He began to rock back and forth and his sobs became louder.
"Neville, please!" Harry begged, her voice trembling. If she didn't leave this room, she would be crying as well.
"No."
"Neville, please!" Harry cried.
Neville looked up slightly and saw the tears running down Harry's cheeks. He blinked and then wiped his eyes and nose on his sleeve. He pushed the girl off of him lightly and then got up. Neville took the girl's hand and led her out of the room.
((The Pretender))
It had been twenty minutes later when Remus and Severus entered the kitchen of Longbottom Manor to find two puffy-eyed teenagers sipping tea. Remus made her way to her pup and Neville, holding them close to her. She whispered words of comfort to Neville, trying to sooth the boy.
"I am sorry to ask, but we need to know. How did this happen?" Severus asked quietly from the corner of the room that he stood in.
"I don't know." Neville said, his voice slightly hoarse, "She was just dead when I went in. She was cold… really cold… when I went in there. I guess… she must have died not too long after our fight…"
"Fight?" Remus asked gently. "What did you fight about?"
"Harry. And how Gran has been trying to control my life and make me into a copy of Dad…" Neville responded somewhat bitterly. "Probably a heart attack. She wouldn't admit it, but her heart has been giving her trouble these past few years. The Medi-wizard said that any really bad strain could kill her."
Remus sucked in a breath. Could it be possible that the row was what killed her?
"I sincerely doubt that." Severus said, his voice slightly sneering in tone. "I doubt anything that you say could ever get her that worked up."
Remus shot her lover a look, "Severus! Don't. Just don't. Not now."
"I killed her. You should have seen her. She was so pissed off. I think she was ready to disinherit me." A dry chuckle escaped the boy's lips, "She saw Harry and I kissing. She said that I was stupid. That I could never be like my father and that I was dooming the family line. I told her that my life was mine and to leave me alone. Well, she's certainly done that. She's left me alone."
"Neville, don't do this to yourself…" Harry said softly, placing her hand onto Neville's.
Neville snatched his hand away and got up from the table. "If you excuse me, I will be in the greenhouse."
"Neville, wait!" Harry cried out, getting up to follow the boy. She then felt a strong grip on her shoulder and she looked back to find Remus holding her back.
"Don't Harry. Leave him alone for now. I am sure that he will work all of this out on his own."
Conditions Met:
1. More than one character must have their gender switched.
2. They are switched involuntarily.
3. Snape gets somebody to love.
4. At least one person dies.