Neville Longbottom
Fields of golden wheat swayed in the wind, and the quiet little village of Hangleton enjoyed a peaceful evening. Flower gardens adorned the houses, and time seemed to slow down here. The villagers greeted one another with warm smiles. Even the weather seemed pleasant, except for that isolated mansion. More than half a century later, an unsettling stillness enveloped the mansion's surroundings, and whispers of the mansion's dark history echoed through the village. As though reluctant to let the past remain buried, the mansion looked imposing and towered over the village with a glare.
Just as the children completed their homework, the teenagers sat to continue their exam revision, the lovers began meeting in secret for the day, and the adults all called it a day, pops that went unheard due to the roaring winds appeared suddenly, and Nicolette Froidevaux cautiously approached the creepy-looking gate. The old, creaking gate made the Aurors shiver involuntarily.
"Froidevaux," Neville began.
"Longbottom," she said.
"Since when do you call each other by surname?" Altair Lloyd asked.
"Quiet, Lyoyd!" Meave Bevan admonished the young trainee. "You please continue, Longbottom."
Lloyd scowled, and Bevan glared at Lloyd.
"Fine, Lloyd. It's quite all right, Bevan." Neville sighed. This wasn't the time for disagreements and quarrels.
"You are being professional, Neville. There is nothing wrong with that. You, me, Nicoleete, Harry, Ron, and Altair are all friends. But when we are on duty, it's our responsibility to maintain professionalism. I apologize on Altair's behalf." Maeve said.
"I appreciate your concern, Meave. And please don't apologize. Let us begin now." Neville said. The others nodded.
"Stick to the plan," Nicolette said. "Especially you, Altair!"
Altair scowled but stayed mute. He had to follow Meave Bevan as she investigated the ground floor. For a long time, Neville and his team worked in silence. They found a few bags full of money, stolen artifacts and objects, and even some jewelry! Just when everything seemed good, a sudden and menacing presence appeared. A hooded figure, cloaked in dark robes, emerged from the shadows, launching a surprise attack.
Neville's instincts kicked in immediately. He saw the panic in the eyes of Altair, who had been caught off guard. Without hesitation, Neville barked orders to the others.
"Get to safety, all of you! Protect the artifacts!" His voice carried the authority of a seasoned auror.
His fellow Aurors, though startled, reacted swiftly. They retreated, following Neville's command, leaving him alone to face the looming threat.
The death eater lunged at Meave, but Neville deflected the curse and shouted at her to join Nicholette, who was retreating after getting hold of all the items the Auror team had confiscated.
"Avada...!" The death eater bellowed at Altair.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Neville screeched at the death eater. He grabbed Altair by the scruff of his neck and pushed him towards Nicholette and Meave. Furious, the death eater attacked Neville. The stakes were high, and spells crackled through the air, sending flashes of light and sparks around them.
The death eater flung heavy objects at Neville, sent cutting curses flying his way, and experimented with illegal curses on Neville. But Neville withstood all of them.
Neville's movements were a testament to his years of training and experience. Each incantation was precise, and every movement was calculated.
In a final, decisive moment, Neville's wand arm moved with a flourish, casting a stunning spell that struck the death eater square in the chest. The dark figure stumbled backward, writhing in pain, before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
"You did it, sir!" Altair cheered.
"GO!" Neville bellowed. "We need to get out of here! Are you sure we've checked everything?"
"We have, Longbottom!" Nicholette said.
All the aurors were bleeding and sweating profusely.
"Are you all right?" Neville asked. Everyone nodded.
One by one, Neville ensured everyone safely dispersed from the evil mansion. Looking around, he sealed the place and set a charm upon it so that it would never be approached.
When Neville finally apparated into the Auror office, a petite figure put her arms around his middle, sinking her head into his chest, and broke down, "Neville! I was so worried!"
"Hannah! Nothing happened!" Neville put his arms around her.
She sobbed hard into him. "Don't you lie to me! I've seen what your teammates look like! If they're like this, it's not far-fetched to imagine what you'd be like! What if anything happened to you?"
Neville turned to Nicholette and said, "Arrest that death eater. I've bound him in chains and kept him there."
She nodded, eager to leave him and Hannah alone.
"Hannah, I am an auror. It is my job to go on dangerous missions and fight dark wizards!" Neville patted the back of Hannah's head.
"But I have only you, Neville! There are other Aurors to do all that!" Hannah sobbed.
"I promise I won't let anything happen to me, Hannah!" Neville tightened his grip around her, kissing the top of her head. Hannah nodded into his chest, snuggling closer to him.
"Nichollete, inform Harry about the recovered goods and the arrested death eater. Tell him to notify Ron and the others too." Neville said.
Dudley Dursley
As Harry accompanied Ginny, Hermione, and Ron outside and shut the door, the healers checked Dudley's and Chloe's pulses and left. Dudley got up from his bed and approached Chloe. Dudley gently squeezed Chloe's hand, and she turned to him, her eyes filled with unspoken pain. He put a leg on the bed and sat with an arm around her.
"Dudley," she began softly, tears rolling down her face. "I never imagined something like this would happen. I thought I was leaving all the danger behind after you and I met soon after the Battle of Hogwarts."
Chloe lowered her face, weeping softly into Dudley's chest. "I'm scared, Dudley. Scared for our future, scared for everything we've been through."
Dudley wrapped his arm around her, offering warmth and comfort. "I am too, Chloe. We're going to recover. We'll get through this together."
"I know! And I want you to know that I am proud of you, Dudley, for standing up to your parents and calling them out for their abusive behavior towards Harry Potter. For making sure your parents treat him decently. He deserves that after everything he's been through. I also want you to know that should you need anything, I am always here for you." Chloe's voice was muffled.
Dudley pressed a kiss on Chloe's forehead. "I've learned a lot, Chloe. Harry's like a brother to me, and he's always been there for us when we needed him. It's time I stood up for him too. I am proud of you, Chloe, for fighting those death eaters who killed Mr. and Mrs. Gabbers. Your parents did not deserve to be killed in such an unjust manner. You avenged their deaths by dueling Crabbe and Goyle."
Chloe sniffled into Dudley's chest. "They defeated me."
"NO!" Dudley lifted her chin and wiped away her tears. "YOU defeated them, Chloe. I know Hermione and Ginny joined you, but that was because Crabbe and Goyle were two against you alone. And Lucius Malfoy joined them, making the three of them against you alone."
"I miss them, Dudley!" Chloe snuggled deeper into his chest, sniffling. "I want to see my village again."
Dudley rubbed her back and held her close. "I promise I'll take you to Elm St. Edmund once we recover from this, Chloe."
Chloe shakily nodded into Dudley's chest.
Harry Potter
"Andromeda, Sirius' old room is Teddy's new room. Upstairs. Your room is here—Sirius' parents' room." Harry pointed. Holding Teddy, a weak Andromeda nodded shakily. Ginny pushed the wheelchair into the room.
"Kreacher!" Harry called out. "From now on, Andromeda will be staying with us. Teddy Lupin is Ginny and my son. Please attend to them."
Kreacher bowed. "My pleasure, Master Harry!"
"Please set up Teddy's room. It's the room Sirius used." Harry said.
Kreacher immediately set to work, arranging a cradle and all of Teddy's possessions.
"I'm sorry for being a burden." Andromeda wiped her eyes.
"Don't, Andromeda. We understand why you fought with the death eaters despite repeatedly being told not to. It doesn't mean we encourage it - for your advanced age. But, we understand." Ginny said it gently. You're going to be living with Harry and me from now on. Teddy is our son, and we'll raise him as our firstborn!"
"It's time for your medicines, Andromeda." Ron said, appearing with tea and cakes.
"Oh, thank you, dear!" Andromeda took her tablets and began eating the cakes. Ron kept the tea on her table.
"You have taken quite easily to cooking, dear!" She said.
"I love my family, Andromeda. I'll do anything for them." Ron put his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Andromeda, you should sleep after this." Hermione gently said. Andromeda nodded, "I pray that you and Ron always stay happy in your married life!"
"Hermione, do you mind keeping Teddy for a while?" Ginny asked as they shut the door and went into the hall.
Hermione nodded with a smile and took the baby. She cooed softly and whispered sweet nothings into his ear. Teddy giggled and snuggled comfortably into Hermione's arms as she softly sang a muggle rhyme for him, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!"
Ron's jaw dropped open. His face grew pink, and his blue eyes grew wide.
"Picturing Hermione as your wife, eh, Ron?" Harry chuckled.
"Shut it!" Ron blushed.
"Don't worry, I imagine the same with Ginny." Harry shrugged and went inside his and Ginny's room after her.
"Harry, I am scared. Why's all this happening?" Ginny trembled as Harry shut the door. "Isn't Voldemort dead? Shouldn't all this be gone?"
Harry wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "It's okay. Those were only a handful of death eaters. We are apprehending them all. It's not a one-day thing."
"Poor Andromeda! What will happen to Teddy?" Ginny burst into tears, dampening Harry's chest. Her sobs echoed throughout the room.
"Hey, we will take care of them!" Harry rubbed her back. "We can do this, Ginny! Andromeda will stay with us henceforth! Teddy is our son, remember?"
Ginny nodded into Harry's chest, sniffling.
"Cheer up, Ginny. Bill's having a baby. Percy's married. George's business is on track. Ron and Hermione are settled, what with Hermione's parents being back and Hermione and Ron having shortlisted a few flats to move into? You and I are starting a new life together. Chloe will get her parents' items and money back. The death eaters are being given life sentences under rigorous punishment in Azkaban as we speak. It's all good!" Harry said it smoothly.
"And what about Draco Malfoy?" Ginny's muffled voice came out.
"A hefty fine along with his imprisonment increased by twelve years!" Harry said. "Once he recovers from those horrible injuries, He and Dudley received similar injuries."
Ginny pulled back and wiped her eyes. "Right!"
Harry smiled encouragingly at her.
"So, how are Clodagh and Dudley?" Ginny asked.
"It's been two days since I last saw them, Ginny. I will check up on them tomorrow." Harry promised, "Come, let's have dinner."
"Look!" Ginny said as they came out.
Hermione and Ron sat on the steps. Teddy slept contentedly in Hermione's arms, and her head was nestled into Ron's shoulder. His arm was around her waist. As Ginny and Harry walked closer, they could hear them.
"They have recovered many stolen artifacts and items from Riddle Mansion and apprehended the death eater there finally," Ron said.
Hermione sniffled against Ron's chest. "But he attacked Neville! What if something had happened?"
Ron rubbed her arm, holding her close. "Nothing happened, Hermione. Neville, Harry, and I are aurors. We have to go on such missions."
"What if something happens?" Hermione said, snuggling into Ron.
Ron kissed the top of her head. "The death eater is now being packed off to Azkaban. The recovered items are in the Auror Office. As Aurors, we are trained to take care of ourselves and others."
"That's right," Harry said, making Ron and Hermione jump.
"Harry?" Hermione gasped.
"Blimey, mate, you scared us!" Ron said, a hand shielding Hermione and Teddy.
"We-we were just talking about Percy and Audrey's honeymoon to Spain!" Hermione said.
"Yeah, at first, Hermione," Ron nodded.
"What's up, Ron?" Harry said.
"Neville and his team are alright," Ron said. As Ron joined Harry in explaining how Neville and his team of Aurors raided Riddle Mansion, Ginny went over to Hermione, and the two girls fondled Teddy affectionately. In the midst of all the darkness, uncertainty, fear, and grief, Teddy's innocence bloomed like a flower.