Interlude: The Observations of Neville Longbottom
The first week of term went quickly for Neville Longbottom. He noticed that James kept brushing off the Weasleys, but kept an close eye on his siblings. Any time Neville tried to talk to James about his behaviour, he just brushed him off.
Every night when Neville was closing the greenhouses he saw a figure standing by Dumbledore's grave. But Neville never questioned or approached the figure.
It was the first Friday of term when something finally happened. Halfway through breakfast people began randomly changing into various animals for a couple of seconds and then back. It soon became apparent that someone had spiked the food in the Great Hall. Such an event was not uncommon at Hogwarts. It was only a matter of time before something like this would happen.
When Neville changed into a canary for the second time, a commotion at the Gryffindor table drew his attention. James had stood up, after it was clear he had changed into a donkey. He angrily stood up and left the Great Hall.
"Of all ze childish zings!" Mr. Popov said, who was sitting a couple of chairs away. It looked like he had just been turned into a hedgehog for a couple of seconds. And with that he also left breakfast.
"It seems Professor Popov does not have a sense of humour," Susan McMillan said from beside Neville.
"You have to admit, Susan, something is missing from this prank," Terry Boot said sagely.
"Yeah, it misses the Potter touch. O merlin! I've worked here too long if I can recognize when 'the Potter touch' is missing," Daphne Zabini said groaning.
"You've only worked here for six years now, Daphne, but I agree with Susan. This prank is very tame compared to some other things I have seen," Headmaster Flitwick said wisely.
"But why is it missing the Potter touch?" Terry asked.
"You really can't think of why, Terry? Remember what happened last August?" Neville asked incredulously.
"Ah, of course, sorry," Terry said abashed.
"They haven't made any progress in finding out who killed Harry, right?" Susan asked carefully.
"Hedeon, I mean Professor Popov, is supposed to research that," Neville said, shaking his head.
"And how is he supposed to do that when he is here?" Daphne asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I trust he is doing what he can," Susan said wisely.
"I don't think dear Hedeon is here to research Harry's death. If you ask me, he is here as a distraction," Daphne said.
"O dear, here we go again on one of Daphne's conspiracy theories," Terry muttered under his breath. Only Susan and Neville heard him.
"The one who put Mr. Popov here is our own Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. I think Shacklebolt killed Harry, and Mr. Popov knows this, but is covering it all up," Daphne said nodding.
"Come on, Daphne, that is ridiculous! Kingsley would never kill Harry; they were friends," Neville said incredulously.
"Shacklebolt has been Minister for how long now? Nearly twenty five years! That is an awfully long time. If you ask me Shacklebolt saw Harry as a threat to the power he had for the last two decades and decided to kill him," Daphne explained.
"So you are saying that Kingsley is corrupt?" Susan asked.
"Power corrupts," Daphne said shrugging.
"You father has been the head of the Wizengamot for nearly as long, Daphne," Terry pointed out.
"I never said my father is not corrupt," Daphne countered.
"So you think it is all a plot by the Ministry?" Neville asked.
"Of course. Think about what the Ministry has done the last couple of years. Releasing Lucius Malfoy, not researching my sister's murder, just to name a few," Daphne said, counting on her fingers.
"Daphne, Astoria died of a heart attack!" Susan pointed out.
"That is what the Ministry says, yes, but you honestly believe that?" Daphne asked angrily, standing up.
"It was the Malfoys who said that," Neville pointed out.
"Fine, if you all want to stick your head in the sand, I have a lesson to prepare." And with that Daphne left the Great Hall.
"So, what do you guys think?" Neville asked after a couple of minutes of silence.
"I agree with Daphne to a point. Personally I think that Harry is under cover somewhere, and that both Kingsley and Mr. Popov know about it," Susan said.
"No, Harry is dead, Susan, just look at the Potters. They don't act as though Harry is under cover. They act like he is dead!" Neville said hotly.
"Of course they would, they want to keep up appearances," Susan said wisely.
"No, James retired from the Quidditch team. That is real right there!" Neville said.
"So, we finally have a chance at the Quidditch Cup, then?" Terry asked smirking.
"Excuse me, I have a lesson to prepare," Neville said and also left the Great Hall.
~O~
It was later that evening, when Neville was closing the greenhouses, that he again saw a figure standing at Dumbledore's grave. There were no clouds in the sky, allowing the waning moon to shine upon the figure. Neville gasped, he would recognize that figure anywhere. Harry Potter was standing next to Dumbledore's grave.
Drawing his wand Neville slowly approached the figure that looked like Harry Potter at Dumbledore's grave. When Neville was close enough to recognize the figure, he saw that it was Hedeon Popov who was standing there, not Harry Potter.
"Professor Popov," Neville said, announcing his presence.
"Professor Longbottom," Popov said, not turning around.
"I have seen you standing here every night so far," Neville said, standing next to Mr. Popov and looking at the grave himself.
Mr. Popov looked startled and moved his hand over his bald head before he composed himself.
"I wondered who he was to be buried at Hogwarts," Mr. Popov finally said.
"Albus Dumbledore was the greatest headmaster Hogwarts ever had," Neville said proudly.
"I wonder vy it took so long for him to defeat Grindelvald then," Mr. Popov said gravely.
"It took Harry Potter three years to defeat Voldemort, so you really can't hold any delay of defeating Grindelwald against him!" Neville said hotly.
"Zey say that Harry Potter was seventeen when he did ze deed," Mr. Popov said, rubbing the front of his nose.
"Yes, he was," Neville said.
"But yet, he is not buried here," Mr. Popov continued like Neville hadn't spoken.
"There is no body, right?" Neville asked pointedly.
"No zere is not," Mr. Popov confirmed.
"Why are you so interested in Dumbledore?" Neville asked suddenly.
"I'm not. Just w-vondering," Mr. Popov said.
"Right," Neville said, wondering at the slip in accent Mr. Popov just made.
"I'm going to bed, Professor Longbottom," Mr. Popov said. And with that he walked back towards Hogwarts.
Neville stood staring after him, wondering who Mr. Popov really was. Why was Mr. Popov so interested in Dumbledore? And what was up with that accent? And to top it all, some things Mr. Popov did reminded Neville strongly of Harry, but that of course was impossible.
Shaking his head Neville went to the gates of Hogwarts to Apparate home for the weekend.