Chapter 35—The next task
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Luna was an aggressive little minks. It took all my will power to keep whatever we had moving slowly besides I had a problem or two.
"Are you worrying about the cup again Nev?"
Luna had a knack for reading my mind; in fact I was almost sure she was actually reading my mind. I had thought of filling the Tri-Wizard cup full of TNT for a welcome home Volde party.
Luna asked, "Nev who will be attached to the cup when it goes off?"
Dam her logic, "How about sneaking into the maze and stunning everyone and sending an empty cup?" I asked.
"With the phony MadEye and Dumbledore around, doubt you will get away with that. Why don't you send the Headmaster a note?"
After I quit laughing we did just that. We wrote of a phony Madeye, the port-key Tri-Wizard cup and Voldemorts resurrection using Potter's blood and Wormtail's involvement.
After sending off the Owl Luna dragged me back to the secret room converted the couch into a bed and had her way with me. My morning alarm found us still wrapped together in bed. My workout was important so I threw on my shorts and headed outside for my workout. A shower could wait till I got back.
/Scene Break/
You want to be left alone and not bothered but that happened to be my opinion and not the opinion of others. In the morning I do my workout while Luna hates the thought of doing them herself she loves to watch me sweat. So this morning I am huffing and puffing and doing my crunches while Luna watches under her disillusionment charm. What devious activities Draco and his two guards Crab and Goyle were up to was never discovered but they saw me doing my workout. Now when could bullies not pick on someone they thought was weak?
"Well if it isn't the squib trying to become a muggle. I've got to tell Bella how you love to smell like a stinking muggle." I just kept working out; I did have an image that I wanted to maintain of a shy and incompetent boy. Seeing no reaction Draco went over the line. While they were not my parent they were Longbottom's parents and I got mad that some jerk was insulting them in such a sickening manner.
I got up and punched Draco in the nose. His two bodyguards attacked and I pulled out my karate training and lost control. There were too many sickening insults over too many lives by this insufferable low life. Draco seeing his two guards down and mangled tried to run but I caught him and gave him a number of punches not to mention slamming him into a tree face first.
Luna covered me in my cloak, after removing me from sight she dragged me to the Quittage locker rooms. After healing a few abrasions she shoved me into the shower and when I came out she had a fresh set of clothes ready. "I really don't know what I am going to do with you besides shagging the hell out of you. Now listen closely and do as I say. You know nothing about those three and what happened this morning. We are going to breakfast and when the Headmaster calls on you I will join you. We both will request our Head of Houses and you will agree to what I say regardless how stupid it sounds. Do you understand me Nev?"
"Yes Lu."
Never argue with Luna is my motto especially after we got to breakfast. I was well into finishing when, "Mr. Longbottom please report to my office immediately".
"I'm coming Neville." Luna shouted from the Ravenclaw table. "Professor Flitwick, could you come along to protect me?" Looking concerned Flitwick immediately agreed.
The Headmaster of course attempted to derail these actions, "Miss Lovegood this does not concern you…" Luna cut him off, "How would you know I am not concerned in this matter?"
In the end we ended up in the Headmaster's office. Snape was there along with Lucius Malfoy, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall and Madam Bones. Luna flicked her wand and two hard chairs disappeared and a comfortable loveseat appeared. Luna dragged me into it and snuggled up. Dumbledore was now watching us over his half-moon spectacles.
Dumbledore got started first but you could see that Malfoy and Snape wanted to say their piece. "Now we are all here to discuss charges against Mr. Longbottom I believe…" Luna interrupted, "Charges against underage students and their parents or guardians not present shame on you Headmaster."
"She is correct Headmaster this may not be just a disciplinary hearing and if charges are possible their parents must be present." Madam Bones stated and so Luna's father and my Gran were called which was a very big mistake on their part.
Minutes later the two arrived. Gran joined McGonagall in the stern look corner a few feet from Snape and Lucius in the sneering area. Gran did not miss me, Luna and the loveseat. Mr. Lovegood smiled at everyone and pulled out a notepad and pen to take notes. Flitwick stood besides Luna's conjured loveseat.
"Now that we are all here we need to discuss the charges brought by Lucius Malfoy that Neville Longbottom without cause attacked and did serious bodily injuries to his heir Draco Malfoy."
"Might I ask when this took place Mr. Lovegood asked.
"This morning just before breakfast is the approximate time. Young Mr. Malfoy is…"
Luna interrupted again, "Not probable Headmaster as Neville and I have been within sight of each other since yesterday after dinner."
"Idiot child, your involving yourself in Azkaban time so quit lying." Lucius Malfoy sneered.
"Draco confusion must have been because of a Nargal attack, he has had Billiwicks circling him all week."
"Oh that is serious." Mr. Lovegood stated and he jotted more down on his note pad.
"Look you loon, Longbottom attacked and injured Draco, along with Crabbe and Goyle this morning putting the three in the hospital." Snape was always a fun guy.
"Professor Snape, you will not insult my student's parents. In fact your silence in this matter should be observed unless you yourself witnessed the event." Flitwick bared his teeth in a well known Goblin fashion.
"I find that hard to believe that Neville attacked anyone with a wand he is nearly a squib." Thanks Gran, I think.
Dumbledore reentered the discussion, "Mr. Longbottom did not use his wand but physically beat the three severely."
"Albus this is sounding quite ridiculous. Neville is the shyest boy in the school and in the years here I have never even heard him raise his voice against anyone. To physically beat Draco and his two thugs is just beyond belief." McGonagall added more to my macho image.
"Silly people I told you I have been with Neville and he is Nargal free."
"Miss Lovegood what time did you meet Mr. Longbottom and did he ever leave your sight? Dumbledore asked expecting a strange answer.
"Neville and I met after dinner last night and I have been with him untill now. He only left my sight when we went to the little boy's room and I was outside the door." I hoped that was not a reflection on my tackle.
"I don't even want to ask this but what were you doing with my grandson all night?
"Oh we were making like bunny rabbits the whole night, he is really good you know."
My head fell into my hands; I was as good as dead.
Madam Bones had a question, "Mr. Longbottom were you in the company of Miss Lovegood during this time?" I nodded without removing my hands and said "Yes Madam Bones". Technically we had not yet lied.
The eruption of yelling, arguing and threats erupted taking Dumbledore's wand blast to quiet the room. Gran was watching me like I was from Mars.
"I find nothing but contradictory statements and confusion, no charges will be coming from the Ministry until someone finds an impartial witness." Madam Bones left being followed by Malfoy issuing threats. They sounded something like "Wait till Fudge hears about this".
"Well I think detentions are in order so…" Luna cut off McGonagall by asking, "You give out detentions for hopping around a room all night?"
Dumbledore laughed, "She has you there Minerva as that is one thing bunny rabbits are known for, hopping that is."
While the room all departed to their own worlds in various opinions and agendas, Gran was still watching us very closely.
/Scene Break/
It can be argued in my case but being a nice guy has its pitfalls. Luna was not as spacey as she appeared in public and I fell right into her trap, a very nice trap but a trap non-the-less. Luna now had a new seat in the Great Hall and that was my lap.
If any one thought that what happened in the Headmasters office was never going to make the rumor mill, well they were dreaming. Draco getting smashed by someone was second rumor to Longbottom and Lovegood's sexual activities. So who was I to fight it? This came along with a lot of ribbing so I just smiled and moved on. That was until Harry Potter started in on me and Luna in the Great Hall. Actually it got to just beyond ribbing.
"Can it Potter you have exceeded you quota for idiot statements today." I growled.
"What is little Neville going to do run to his girlfriend or maybe his mother. They are both crazy loons. Where you going to run to…"
Maybe it was a stupid thing to do but I hit him hard enough that some teeth broke free and he went down like a lump of cold spaghetti. The problem is he is the great boy who lived and the Tri-Wizard Champion and he has his entourage not to mention my possibly hurting Gryffindor's chance of winning the tournament. Somebody from the Gryffindor table threw a curse at me.
Gryffindor may be the supposed house of the brave but they were not the house of accuracy. The curse missed and hit the Huffelpuff Champion in the back. The war was on with Curses flying from all tables caused the teachers to stun most of the Great Hall to stop the outbreak of hostilities.
/Scene Break/
Teachers meeting later that day:
"Potter needs to be expelled for starting that riot." Snape started.
"Now it was only a simple misunderstanding between housemates." Dumbledore offered.
"You heard what transpired and we should have stopped Potter's foul words. If I was Longbottom... Potter would have been looking down my wand and not a simple muggle punch." McGonagall was slightly upset. "Half my house in detention and if they so much as put a toe out of line they well never see a free minute the rest of the school year."
"Yes the detention and punishment list is quite long." Albus moaned.
Flitwick started laughing, "Do you notice whose name is missing from the list of fighters or the list of those who got stunned or injured? It appears Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood just walked out of the Great Hall without a scratch or receiving a curse."
"Yes that is quite a remarkable feat for someone to walk in-between fighting houses and not be involved or struck with a hex." Dumbledore was already thinking of adding Longbottom into his Greater Good plans.
/Scene Break/
The third task was upon the school and Luna and I joined the rest of the students to the bleachers. Like in the second task it appeared that we would get to see very little of what was going on inside the maze. We saw the champions enter the maze and watched some of the professors patrolling outside but not much else. At least our arriving early got us good seats as this event was open to the public. That meant the Ministry was here with Pompous Fudge, croaking Umbridge and a number of Aurors. The main gates to Hogwarts were open to the public and there was a good turnout to see the Boy-who-lived.
"Think Dumbldork has done anything because of our note?" I asked Luna.
"No he hasn't or the tournament would have been called off or at least signs of a large Aura force being here to do something."
I knew that things could change but I knew things had seriously gone wrong when red sparks flew up and they hauled Diggery out on a stretcher. The burn marks to his back looked serious. The next set of red sparks found Fleur being brought out on a stretcher. Then Krum stumbled out of the entrance waving his wand; it appeared he had been 'confundo' cursed. About then I was thinking 'so much for the time line as I remember it'. That meant Potter was either dead or won the tournament. About an hour later it appeared that he had done both. There was no doubt that Potter was tortured horribly and was completely dead as the Tri-Wizard cup dumped his pieces in front of the spectators. The first person to start to pick up the pieces triggered the dark mark to streak into the air.
Luna and I got out of there as quickly as possible. We avoided the Great Hall and common rooms as emotions were bound to be running high.
/Scene Break/
I didn't want to become involved in what was surely to be a continuing mess in the Great Hall. Students still were buzzing with questions of who, why, how. "Let's hit the kitchen and get a large picnic basket and hide out in our room."
"You just want to play patty cake before we go home." Luna giggled.
"Now why didn't I think of that?"
We did play patty cake but also talked of what might be coming in the future. From the summer to a little further down the road, that's when Luna dropped her little bomb shell. "Oh I love playing patty cake with you Harry but the Nargals say you won't be here for me."
That threw me into some confusion at to what she meant. Further questions only got vaguer answers. In the end she had changed the subject back to the tournament.
"How much blame do you think is going around?" I would have brought us up again later but now the tournament was the subject she wanted to talk about.
"Well knowing Fudge has his Rotfang conspiracy and his attempts to take over the Goblins gold I would say Dumbledore will get the most for losing the golden boy but the Goblins will also get some for not turning over Deatheater vaults to the Ministry."
"Well add into your calculations that there is a prophesy that could have been either Potter or me. Since Riddle chose to mark Potter I got out of the limelight. Oh Shit! Lu we've got to send another note."
/Scene Break/
Albus Dumbledore finally got to return to his office. The Minister was blustering that it was all Dumbledore's fault. The Minister did not know how close he came. That note came with a rent-a-post owl and he had not paid attention to it as it outlined how Tom would get his body back. Now he was now short his poster boy but at least he had the Potter estate. The dumb shit had signed every thing over to Albus just before the third task. Dumbledore knew the arrogant little shit couldn't do anything but run his mouth. Somewhere Dumbledore knew he had gone wrong but where? Just then a phoenix flashed in, dropped a note and fled. Again Albus was confused as the phoenix was not Fawkes. Carefully opening the note afraid of what disaster it contained it simply read; Ring Gaunt house, Locket Order of the Phoenix house, Tiara in room of lost things, Riddles Snake, Hufflepuff Cup Lestrange vault, Diary chamber of secrets, and Potters scar, all Riddle's Horcruxes.