Part VIX

[Scene]: Hog's Head Inn

Neville had been hoping for the day that Harry Potter would return from his travels ever since he had stood up to that Death Eater way back in September. Now, after six months of fighting for his life against even more Death Eaters and trying to spare the lives of the others at school, he would no longer be alone. Standing before him was Harry himself, along with Ron and Hermione, who looked lovelier than usual, if that was possible.

"I knew you'd come back," he mumbled, before throwing himself onto Harry and bursting into tears of joy. Harry awkwardly patted him on the shoulder and wiggled his way out of Neville's grasp. "How are you, Neville?" he asked, proceeding to adjust his glasses, which had been knocked askew in the embrace.

"As well as can be expected, I suppose," Neville said truthfully, and went on to hug Ron, who actually reciprocated to the hug, and Hermione, who gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'm mighty pleased you've all come at last. I wasn't sure how much longer we could all hold on."

Aberforth clapped a great hand on Neville's back. "This young man has been the savior of Hogwarts this past half year, Harry. He can take you back to the castle and show you what's what."

Was that a glint of envy Neville saw shooting across Harry's deep green eyes? It couldn't be, not after all they had both been through. He did, however, feel Harry's eyes on him, examining every inch of cuts, bruises, and dirt that caked his skin.

"How are the others?" Ron asked after a moment. Neville looked over at him. "Seamus is worse off than I am," said Neville, gesturing to his ragged appearance. "That Irish blood's really been boiling lately. Hannah Abbott is doing well, she worked her way out of a skirmish with the Carrows last week. Luna was okay before they, you know, dragged her off."

"I thought Seamus swore he wasn't coming back," Hermione queried. Neville smiled. "We sent him a full report of what was going on and told him Lavendar Brown would go out with him if he showed himself. After that, well, he rushed up here, and he and Lavendar have been at it ever since."

Hermione was rightly pleased, but Harry shook his head sharply and barked, "Ginny, what about Ginny? Is she all right?" Neville chuckled. "Relax, Harry, she's fine. That fiery hair matches her disposition nowadays. She misses you a lot, you know. Hannah tells me that she cries every night."

Neville stopped here at the broken look that crossed Harry's face. "But I'm sure you'd like to ask her that yourself. Come on, I'll show you back to the castle. But I warn you, it's not a pretty sight. Especially since Snape is Headmaster."

The anticipated shock never came from Harry, because by the time Neville had finished his sentence, Harry was already deep inside the tunnel behind the picture of Ariana Dumbledore.

Ron made up for it by exclaiming with his signature, "Bloody Hell!" and Hermione shook her head in disgust. Neville looked up for support and found it in the kind eyes of Aberforth. "Go on, boy, show them the way. Don't worry about Harry, being the Chosen One is a big job, and sometimes he gets ahead of himself."

Neville nodded solemnly and led his two friends back to Hogwarts, and found it very easy to chat to them about all that had happened since they had seen each other. All the same, he wished that once, just once, he could be the Chosen One, instead of Harry Potter.

When the trio reached the castle, Harry was already assembling a large group of Hogwarts students and addressing them on the proper way to disarm a Death Eater. He was holding Ginny's hand and standing beside the Carrows, who were lying unconscious on the tiled floor.

Neville approached and opened his mouth to say something, but Harry would not let him speak. "Ron and Hermione, I need you to go down to the Chamber of Secrets and get basilisk fangs. It's imperative that we have them," he demanded, and without a word the two were off to retrieve the teeth.

"Harry, what in the world are you-" Neville began, but by now Harry had dismissed the students and was rounding on him. "I'm gonna let you finish," he said, "but first I need you stall the pack of Malfoy-lovers on the third floor. They've got Seamus and Lavendar cornered apparently, and it's not like I don't trust them or anything, but I think they might need backup. Take Hannah with you."

Apparently, Neville didn't even need to tell Harry that the school was falling to pieces and a battle was ensuing, because he'd merely appointed himself a general of some sort and was hell-bent on leading his troops to victory.

With a sigh, Neville looked over at Hannah and they headed off to rescue Seamus and Lavendar, who if Neville assumed correctly were snogging in a corner somewhere in the least bit of danger possible.

Well, here's the next installment. I hope it satisfies my readers. I realize it's not much, but perhaps the next chapter I'm working on will fulfill that. R&R if you wish.