Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and make no profit off of this story.

The next time Augustus saw Dumbledore was after a mail owl tracked him down asking for a meeting at Hogwarts. Closer to evening the building was mostly deserted and Augustus made his way to Dumbledore's office without running into anyone. The stone gargoyle was open, so Augustus headed on up, only to stop short. Crowded into Dumbledore's office were many people he didn't recognize and many he did but the one thing they all had in common was the worried looks on their faces. The Longbottoms smiled welcomingly at him but he still felt his face flush with all the attention directed at him. He'd always hated being the center of attention!

Dumbledore smiled encouragingly at him. "Augustus, do come in. Don't mind all these people. They were just leaving."

"What can I do for you headmaster?"

Dumbledore waited until everyone had left. "We were hoping you might consider joining a little…group of ours. I think you're quite the right sort of person and that we can trust you."

"Would this be the Order of the Phoenix?" Augustus asked, seemingly a bit surprised about being invited but not about the group itself.

"Ah, you're aware of it?"

Augustus nodded.

"Well, then. What do you say?"

Augustus thought about it for a moment, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Finally he nodded sharply. "Yes, I think I will. I'll warn you though that I tend to end up in a lot of trouble. Karma or something."

Dumbledore laughed sadly. "I wish you could have met James Potter. He and his friends caused more than enough trouble. I'm sure you'll fit in with his friends without any trouble. Now then, I'll just introduce you to the sorting hat first." He pulled the battered hat off the top shelf and stuck it on Augustus' head without any warning.

The hat made a sound like a grumpy old man. What's this then? Oh, a tricksy one, aren't you?

I had a good reason to break those rules and come here!

The hat laughed. Well, it's not like you're the first person who believed their own reasoning. Let's see, lots of courage, that's for sure. I suppose I could put you in Gryffindor again. Are you sure you don't want me to put you-

No!

Still refusing, eh? No matter. "Gryffindor!"

Dumbledore smiled. "Wonderful. There are a few magical oaths you'll have to make but before that, there's one more important question. Please give your best answer and take as much time as you need to think about it."

Augustus swallowed nervously. His palms began to sweat.

Dumbledore folded his hands in front of him and leaned closer. Full of deadly seriousness, he asked, "Do you like lemon drops?"

&&&&&&&&&&&

"Augustus, I'm glad you could make it, my boy." Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling madly.

Augustus did his best to hide his nervousness. "What can I do for you headmaster?"

"We have a bit of a dilemma…" Dumbledore began.

"You're a seer, aren't you?" another voice interrupted.

"Remus…" Dumbledore gently reproved the other. "You'll pardon Remus here. He's very concerned. You see, Harry Potter seems to have disappeared and Remus was rather close with Harry's parents."

"Of course…"Augustus murmured.

"We were hoping, of course, that you might be able to give us some insight into the situation."

"Ah…er…that is to say…it doesn't quite work that way. I'm sorry…I really don't know anything…."

Dumbledore seemed to deflate a little. "Ah. Well, I suppose…"

"Headmaster, you're aware that I went with Sirius to Grimmauld Place this morning to fetch come clean clothes?" Remus asked.

Dumbledore looked at him quizzically. "Yes…"

"So, perhaps,Augustus, you'd like to explain why the whole house smelled like you and Harry when Harry's never been to Grimmauld Place before?!!!"

"What are you talking about?" Augustus tried but already the Headmaster's eyes had turned penetratingly upon him.

"Perhaps you are unaware, Augustus, but Mr. Lupin is a werewolf. If he says that the house smells like you and Harry, then he is undoubtedly correct. So, would you care to explain?"

"Surely you don't still believe I'm a Death Eater! I proved that Sirius was innocent and that it was Pettigrew. What would I want with Harry Potter?"

"Where is he?" Remus snarled

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"I believe, Augustus, that you have some questions to answer." Dumbledore replied as he drew his wand and Augustus knew no more.

When he awoke, he was once again bound to a chair. This time however, he knew he faced the entire assembly of the Order of the Phoenix. Sirius Black stood glaring at him from the back, Remus' hand on his arm probably the only thing restraining him from leaping on Augustus and tearing him limb from limb. All around him were unfriendly glares. What cut him the deepest though was Molly Weasley in the corner, crying on her husband's shoulder. "The poor boy," she sniffled. "The poor, poor dear." Her voice was the only thing to pierce the silence.

Finally Dumbledore spoke. "Augustus."

"I won't let you have him. I won't ever let you have him. I won't watch him die piece by piece until there's nothing left because you can't fight your own damn war. You don't deserve him and I can't…I can't…" his voice broke.

"Augustus. We have no intentions of hurting the boy. We just wish what's best for him. Tell us where he is."

"No."

"We will use verituserum if we have to. Where is Harry Potter?"

Augustus said nothing.

Snape stepped forward with the verituserum and forced Augustus to swallow a dosage.

Augustus lifted his chin defiantly and stared into the eyes of Albus Dumbledore. "My name is Neville Augustus Longbottom. I'm an auror and I've illegally traveled into the past, fully aware of the consequences, in order to save the life of Harry Potter. I won't let you have him. Not you."

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Author's Note: Ok, you all guessed it. I didn't think it would be so easy to figure out it was Neville. Oh well. Anyway, I think the next chapter will be the last one. Yay!