Posted: 1 March, 2010
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this story that is recognisable from the Harry Potter books, movies, etc. Everything else however (eg. story plot, original characters, etc.) stems from my own imagination and belongs to me. No copyright infringement is intended and I am not profiting financially from this story in any way.
Chapter 8 - Occlumency and News
Sunday, 5 January, 1992
"Neville!" Harry greeted his friend cheerfully, heaving his trunk onto the train.
"Harry. I'm glad you found me," Neville said, getting up to help with the luggage. "I wasn't sure whether to wait for you on the platform or save us a compartment."
"Well I'm glad you went with the compartment idea. The train's filling up fast. Hopefully we'll get it to ourselves."
Together they managed to get the trunk stowed away overhead, then closed the door and sat down.
"So, how were your holidays?"
"Good. Thanks for the Christmas gifts."
"You already thanked me Nev. Speaking of, that was a fancy letter just for some Liquorice Wands and a book," he said teasingly.
Neville blushed. "Gran says it's the proper thing to do, sending out thank you letters on luxury parchment. I do it every year. Besides," he said, gaining confidence, "it was worth two thank yous because I really did love the book. Some of the plants it talks about are really fascinating."
"No problem, glad you liked it. And thanks for the gift you sent me too. I've wanted a copy ever since I read the one from the library."
Neville smiled as Harry reflected that his comment was technically true. He had wanted a copy of 'Quidditch Through the Ages' ever since reading the library copy. The only thing was, he'd actually first borrowed the book from Hermione, who had been the one to loan it from the library, and he'd been reading it to help prepare himself for his first Quidditch game in the original timeline. Thinking of this reminded him of the fact that sadly, it was still necessary to keep so much from his friend. Even seemingly inconsequential information like when he first read a book. He couldn't wait till that was no longer so. Speaking of …
"So how's your Occlumency practice been going?" he asked and Neville sagged.
"Not too good. I still can't clear my mind in an instant like I need to."
"Neville, it's going to take a long time to master it," he reassured. "Have you been making progress though?"
"Well, I can do it quicker now than I used to. It only takes me about ten minutes to clear my mind, and on Boxing Day I managed to stay that way for five minutes."
"Really?" Harry's eyebrows rose, impressed. "That's great Neville – a huge improvement on before the holidays. It used to take you a good twenty minutes and you could only stay blank for two minutes at most."
The blond smiled shyly, looking more confident and positive now that his friend had praised his progress.
"Can we test my shields?" he asked.
"Sure," Harry nodded, drawing his wand. "What emotion do you want me to target?"
"Happiness?"
"Okay, get ready." He pointed his wand at the other boy. "Legilimens."
Focussing on drawing forth memories associated with happiness, Harry was easily able to enter Neville's mind. The blond's task in this exercise was to focus on clearing his mind as soon as he detected the invasion. Eventually, with practice, this action would become automatic and instinctual, blocking probes as they were felt.
As Neville struggled toward tranquillity, images flickered through his mind, Harry watching them play out. First meeting Harry on the train, where the green-eyed boy declared he hoped they'd be friends; dinner at the Longbottom home, with Neville's Gran bragging to his Uncle Algie about how well he was doing at school; Christmas morning, opening a gift to find '101 Interesting Plants' from Harry, his first present from a friend.
More and more memories were brought to the fore, and Harry noted that he seemed to appear in a lot of them. Then bit by bit the rate of images slowed, beginning to flicker out. At first they did so for but an instant, but gradually the flickering extended for longer and longer lengths of time. When Neville managed to keep his mind clear for five whole seconds, Harry finally released the spell, grinning widely.
"Brilliant Neville, you're getting a lot better. It only took you about thirty seconds to start blocking me and two minutes trying before you held up for a five second stretch."
The blond slumped in his seat, breathing heavy and showing the strain of his efforts, but there was a pleased grin on his face.
Just then the train gave a lurch as it began to pull away from the station. They stared out the window as the crowd disappeared into the distance, before turning back to one another.
"Again?" Neville requested.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked and received a firm nod.
As he raised his wand to cast again, Harry reflected that Neville's fears when they first met in this timeline – that he would probably end up a Hufflepuff – were not entirely unfounded. This was not for the reason he feared however: that he wasn't good enough for the other houses. Rather it was because when Neville really decided to try for something, he put his all into it without reserve. He certainly didn't shy from hard work in the least.
..ooOOoo..
Tuesday, 21 January, 1992
It had been almost a month (twenty-seven days to be exact) since Harry had relinquished Pettigrew to Amelia Bones, explaining to her that Sirius was falsely imprisoned and the rat was the real criminal. Ever since then, he had been waiting nervously for news that Sirius had been freed and pardoned.
He knew of course that these things took time. Nevertheless, as the days continued to pass with no word, he grew worried. What if something went wrong? What if Pettigrew managed to escape custody? What if they still refused to see his godfather's innocence?
As the morning post arrived and he unrolled his received copy of the Daily Prophet, he realised his waiting had come to an end. Quickly a tide of whispers spread across the hall, and those without newspapers were seen peeking over the shoulders of those who did.
"Harry?" Neville asked from his side. "What's everyone finding so interesting about the Prophet?"
Wordlessly Harry turned toward the other boy, settling the paper on the table between them so that they could both read at once. There at the top of the page, in bold blinking letters, was the headline:
--+--
Azkaban Inmate Sirius Black Innocent After All
In an exclusive press conference yesterday evening, Madam Amelia Bones (Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement) revealed the shocking news that Sirius Orion Black, formally incarcerated for crimes including the betrayal of the Potters to You-Know-Who, is in fact innocent on all counts.
Explains Madam Bones, "The department was contacted by an anonymous informant, who brought to our attention the continued existence of Peter Pettigrew, along with claims of Black's innocence."
For those not aware, in additional to the betrayal of the Potters, Black was also accused of the murder of Pettigrew and twelve Muggles. The survival of Pettigrew, and the proof that the man has been in hiding for over a decade, immediately cast doubt on Black's guilt. Madame Bones swiftly opened an investigation into the claims, heading the operation herself.
"Both Black and Pettigrew confessed to matching accounts whilst under the influence of Veritaserum," she tells, "but it was not the events commonly believed to be true. In actuality, Pettigrew was the true Secret Keeper of the Potters. Black was to play decoy, drawing attention away from Pettigrew. Unfortunately, Pettigrew was a marked Death Eater, and gave You-Know-Who the Potters' location.
"It was also Pettigrew who created the explosion that killed the twelve Muggles. He did this in an effort to stage his own death, after shouting falsely to the crowd that Black had betrayed James and Lily, in order to frame Black for his own crimes."
Pettigrew has been tried and officially found guilty of all charges. He has been sentenced to life in Azkaban, the decision to be reviewed in twenty years, at which time a decision will be made whether to continue the life sentence, or administer him the Kiss.
Sirius Black is convalescing from his traumatic time in Azkaban and so was unavailable for comment. He is expected however to seek compensation for his wrongful imprisonment. The Wizengamot is already in talks to discuss the institution of methods to prevent such a travesty of justice from ever occurring again.
--+--
"Wow," Neville breathed from beside him, then turned concerned eyes to his companion. "Harry, are you okay?"
At first he was confused at the question. Then he noticed more than a few eyes glancing in his direction and it clicked. The article spoke about the betrayal of the Potters. Looking at his friend, who was staring at him compassionately, he decided to be as honest as possible.
"Yeah. Yeah I think so," he said quietly, so no one else could overhear. "I'd heard about Sirius Black of course. Finding out that this Peter Pettigrew was the real reason – apart from You-Know-Who – that my parents are dead … I glad," he said fiercely, and at the confused expression clarified. "I'm glad that he's been discovered finally, and that he's going to pay for what he did. But I'm also sad and angry that Sirius has been paying for Pettigrew's crimes. I've read about Azkaban." And he shivered, not unfeigned. "It's supposed to be horrible."
"The most horrible place on Earth," Neville agreed, looking pale at the thought that an innocent man had been there.
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