Not the Boy-Who-Lives. The Chosen One
End of Tournament Feast
"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory." (GF37)
Dumbledore stepped down from his perch at the front on the head table, as he came down off his soapbox and sat in his throne of a chair he fought to keep a smile from creeping onto his face. He cared about Cedric's death as much as he cared about the Knight Bus arriving on time. Cedric's death was a small footnote that in the bigger scope of things was nothing more than a small mark that would hardly be remembered. The greater good demanded that sacrifices be made, Cedric was in the wrong place at the wrong time and a bad thing happened to him what should Dumbledore care? He had arranged for people, good people, people who meant more to the fight for the greater good than a seventeen year old kid did to die so whatever. He had to appear somber in front of the teachers and students so that his loving grandfather and lover of all things good did not show itself as the façade it was. Cedric's death would mean now one of two things for him and his cause. Either the ministry would believe Harry that Voldemort was back and Cedric would be used as a rallying martyr for the first to die in the second war, or Harry wouldn't be believed and the ministry and the media would tear him apart again further alienate him from everyone in the wizarding community leaving him depressed and alone with very few people to trust, with of course Dumbledore being at the top of that list.
So they ate together, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, and Hogwarts for the last time. It was a somber event, not much chatter could be heard and what was barely came above a whisper. All the students finished eating and then it was time for everyone to say good-bye. But in the corner of the great hall the four gathered again.
"Even after all this Albus hasn't told him what he needs to know, it is clear now that he just wants Harry dead and anyone that might stop that from happening." The black haired boy said.
"Well then we have to tell him and get him the bloody hell out of here. Voldemort is back fully and it is about to get a lot more dangerous for everyone and especially him." The black haired girl said. "He has to know what he is really dealing with and the kind of people he really has around him.
"I see that he won't believe us." The blonde haired girl spoke up. "The old man has him brainwashed and I bet if we checked he used a few memory charms to get his brain squeaky clean."
"Well go and get him alone so we can talk to him." The blonde haired boy said.
"Are you kidding? Those two traitors he has for friends are draped over him like a blanket all day and night." The black haired boy replied.
"You know it won't be easy, he isn't particularly bright and he doesn't trust easily, and when he sees the two of you the chances of us getting him to listen to us dropped to almost nil." The black haired boy said. "And like most the people at this school, he thinks the sun shines out of Dumbledore's arse."
The Black haired girl was getting agitated. "Just go and get him," she gritted through her teeth, "Bring him to Vectors' classroom and we will try and reason with him."
The black haired boy looked like he was about to protest but seeing the look on the girls' face he nodded and turned to leave.
"Ten minutes" The boy said as he walked away.
He fought through the crowd of people being stopped on more than one occasion by the other students to say goodbye until he made his way to the courtyard. He spotted Harry by the pillars on the bridge by the entrance, flanked of course by the two people who never left his side; Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. It made the boy sick to think that Harry could be so clueless as to mistake those two for friends.
"The boy can't tell a friend from a mole." He thought to himself as he walked up to them.
"Harry" he said with a forced smile on his face. "Got a minute?"
Harry smiled slightly as he turned to the boy. "Neville, sure what's on your mind?"
"Umm it's a little private." He said looking over Harry's shoulder at the other two who made no attempt to disguise the fact that they were listening. "Can you come with me for a second?"
Harry made to speak but Ron cut him off. "Why does he need to go anywhere with you Longbottom," Ronald snapped. "What do you have to say in front of him that you can't in front of us?"
"If I wanted you to know Ronald wouldn't I have told you?"
"I don't think Harry should be going off to private places at the moment considering what just happened in the tournament." Hermione popped in. "At least not without his friends."
"What is it you think I am going to do to him Hermione?" Neville asked with his eyebrow raised.
"I didn't do anything to him the first few months of school when he needed help and didn't have a certain couple of friends to draw assistance from."
Hermione wanted to rebut but she thought better of it. Harry finally got a word in. "Come on guys it's Neville he isn't going to do anything to me."
"Squib probably couldn't do anything anyway." Ron said under his breath. Neville, however, heard him and as he walked away with Harry he sent a spell silently at Ron chuckling to himself as they entered the building.
"So what is this about Neville?" Harry asked.
"You will understand when we get to the classroom." Neville said but Harry eyed him suspiciously. "There are some things you have not been told that are way past due for you to know about."
"Neville you're worrying me." Harry said as they arrived at Professor Vector's empty classroom.
"You should be worried." Neville said as he opened the door and led Harry through.