Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
A/N: Thanks to SingularityStar, who beta this story for me.
Chapter Thirty
The Lost Diadem
"The Lost Diadem," George read, and McGonagall looked intrigued, and Dumbledore was able to note that the last Horcrux was another founder's possession. "What's the Lost Diadem?"
"I've never heard of it before, but I'm going to assume it's the last Horcrux," Remus said thoughtfully.
Describes Neville ending with one eye was swollen, gouge marks on his face, and unkemptness suggested that he had been living rough:
"Oh dear," Hermione sighed, not liking the sounds of that at all.
"I'm sure he's fine, Mione," Ron said firmly but if she looked at his expression, she would have seen he was worried about their friend, too.
"And I'm sure he's got plenty of stories to tell now," Fred said.
"He was at Hogwarts!" McGonagall said in shock, she had never seen a student this out of shape before. And one of her Gryffindor's … she was seriously angry by this.
Nevilles says I knew you'd come, kept telling Seamus it was a matter of time:
"Er … I think he believes you're here to fight," Ron said to Harry.
"It seems that way," Harry frowned, but this was not the place he would choose to fight if he had to. He wouldn't want Hogwarts to be the grounds for the biggest battle of the century. He wouldn't want to be the grounds for any battle at all. Nor did he want the students inside to be caught up in the fight that might take place here.
"It might not lead to that," Hermione said softly.
"Are you kidding me, of course it's going to lead to that," Draco said. "There is no way that Potter is going to find whatever it is he's looking for and get out of there without the Dark Lord finding out!"
"I hate to admit this, but he's probably right," Sirius sighed, he too didn't want Hogwarts to be the sight of a battle like this promised to be. His thoughts were shared by all the others but for Harry, Sirius and Severus, who all thought of the castle as the first place that they felt at home, it had more meaning to them.
Mentions Neville dismissed his injuries with a shake of the head:
"He's changed so much," Ginny said and everyone that knew him nodded their head in agreement. Just by that simple movement they could see a change in the once shy and clumsy boy.
Neville says Ab, there might be a couple more people on the way:
"It seems like Neville is calling in some reinforcements," Fred said, seriously hoping that this would include himself.
Aberforth says couple more, there's a curfew and a Caterwauling Charm on the whole village:
"Oh Dear," Molly paled, fearing for anyone (and she sincerely believe that her children would be among them) that came to the town and got caught by the Death Eaters there.
"Don't worry Mum, Neville's thought of that," George said sounding impress as he continued to read.
Neville says I know that's why they'll be Apparating directly into the bar:
"Brilliant!" Fred agreed with George's impressed tone. "No one would know we're coming that way!"
"It certainly was good of him to think of that," Remus said smiling, he believed probably more than most that Neville was capable of doing great things and he was proud to see the boy was embracing that now.
Mentions the passageway had been there for years:
"It had to be there when Hogwarts was built!" Sirius said. "But I've never heard of this passageway! Wow, you really do learn something new every day."
"This is brilliant … Filch doesn't know about this place," Fred smiled. "And it leads straight into a pub!"
"Unfortunately for you Mr. Weasley, that I know of this passageway, too," McGonagall said sternly, and the grin on Fred's face fell.
"Well, of all the rotten luck," he grumbled.
Neville says never mind that stuff, is it true, did you break into Gringotts:
"How did they know that?!" Molly questioned.
"Obviously people must have noticed that something went on there …" Remus said.
"And I'm sure everyone at Potterwatch would be happy to report news such as this!" George chuckled.
Neville says what have you been doing, people say you've on the run, Harry but I don't think so, I think you've been up to something:
"When is Potter not up to something," McGonagall said sternly.
"Usually over the summers I don't get into much trouble," Harry answered.
"Yes, and all of my students were attacked by dementors over their holiday," McGonagall pointed out.
"I said usually," Harry grumbled.
Neville says it's been, well it's not really like Hogwarts anymore:
Everyone sighed, they were actually enjoying the conversation so far, but they knew that horrible things must be happening in the castle, and they were about to find out about it.
Neville says they're in charge of all discipline, they like punishment, the Carrows:
"How could you let them be in charge of discipline?" McGonagall asked Severus.
"I doubt it was up to me," Severus sighed.
Neville says we're supposed to practice the Cruciatus Curse on people who've earned detentions:
"WHAT?" McGonagall wasn't the only one to scream this time, just about everyone was outraged by this. It was bad enough that they would teach that curse at Hogwarts, but to actually have the students use it on one another! How could they do that?
McGonagall started pacing the room in her anger and Dumbledore was now looking at the book with pure loathing. He had imagined things would be bad … it was hard to hear they would be this bad.
Neville pointed to a deep gash in his cheek and says that's how I got this one, I refused to do it:
"Good for you Neville," just about everyone cheered for him.
"Don't let those slimy bastards push you around!" George added.
Neville says Crabbe and Goyle love it, first time they've ever been top in anything, I expect:
"What about you Malfoy … I bet you're just loving it too?" Ron said hotly.
"If I were, don't you think Longbottom would have said so," Draco said coldly. "I think I rank higher up than Crabbe and Goyle."
"Leave him alone, Ron, I honestly don't think Malfoy would like that," Harry said, thinking of the earlier chapter that showed that he didn't.
"Sorry … it's reflex," Ron sighed.
Neville says I got this one, for asking her how much Muggle blood she and her brother have got:
"Brilliant!" the twins said together.
"I never knew he had a sense of humor!" George chuckled.
Ron says blimey, Neville, there's a time and a place for getting a smart mouth:
"And this is both the time and place!" Charlie pointed out. "If you just sit back and take things like this than things will only get worse … you have to show those arrogant gits that they're not right!"
"Okay Charlie … take a deep breath and count to ten," Tonks chuckled as Charlie turned red with rage.
Neville says the thing is, it helps when people stand up to them, it gives everyone hope, I used to notice that when you did it, Harry:
Harry looked surprised at that.
"You really are good at that!" Ginny said. "Standing up to things and giving us all hope!"
"Er … really?" Harry said.
"Of course, you are you dimbat … that's why you're the leader of our little army!" George said.
"As leader, I order you to give me more respect!" Harry found himself saying.
"Good luck with that one mate," Ron rolled his eyes.
Neville says they get taken hostage; old Xeno Lovegood was giving a bit too outspoken, so they dragged Luna off the train:
Everyone frowned at the reminder of what had happened to Luna, though at least they knew she was okay and safe right now.
Neville says yeah, I know, she managed to get a message to me:
"Really how?" Molly questioned.
"Maybe she knows how to send talking Patronus or something?" Sirius shrugged.
"Does she even know how to do a Patronus?" Percy questioned, looking doubtful.
"I think there's a high chance she does, Harry's going to be showing us how to do Patronus when we get back," Ginny said. "I'm sure she would pick it up."
Mentions from Neville's pocket he pulled a golden coin:
"Oh … never mind then, that makes a lot more sense," Hermione said. "That's probably how he sent his message out too."
"On a coin?" Percy questioned.
"On one of the fake Galleons Hermione as put the Protean Charm on so that we could send messages to one another," Ron said looking at his girlfriend proudly.
"Oh … that's very good … wait," Percy said and then looked at Hermione a little shocked. "You've already done this charm then!"
"Yes," Hermione said.
"That's a seventh-year charm!" Bill said.
"Yes, so I have been told by a few members of the DA," Hermione said.
"That's really impressive," Bill said, and Percy nodded his head, looking a little put out … he couldn't have done that charm in his fifth year.
Neville says these have been great, the Carrows never knew how we were communicating, it drove them mad, Snape hated it:
"But it's brilliant, how could you not like it!" Tonks asked.
"Because it will make my job of keeping the student safe that much more difficult," Severus said curtly.
"He has a point," McGonagall sighed, she was happy that they would stand up to this kind of injustice, but she had to admit that she rather none of her students would get hurt.
Neville says we lost Luna at Christmas, and Ginny never came back after Easter, and the three of us were sort of the leaders:
"Way to go little sister!" the twins cheered, and Molly moaned bitterly, "Ginny!"
"Sorry Mum, but I have to do my part in keeping my peers' spirits alive!" Ginny said.
"I just wonder how you three became the leaders," Remus said frowning.
"Oh, thanks Remus... I guess that means you don't think I can handle this," Ginny pouted at him.
Remus chuckled at that, "Believe me, Ginny, I think nothing of the kind. And I will add that I think Neville will, and has already shown that he has, risen to the occasion perfectly. I was just wondering how it came about that you three were placed above the others to be the leaders."
"Most confusing of which is Luna," George added. "Don't get me wrong …" he said quickly for Ginny narrowed her eyes at him, "I think she's proven to all of us that she's brilliant. I just … she's the odd girl that sprouts out nonsense … how did she go from that to co-leader of the DA."
"I think the answer lies in how she became so close to me," Harry said honestly. "The way I think about her … well let's just say I think she has my respect."
"Hm … that would do it," Fred said thoughtfully. "But I'm still curious how she got it."
"We may never know, for through this book, I think she's already earned it," Harry said.
Neville says that Michael Corner went and got caught releasing a first-year they'd chained up:
McGonagall hissed at this, her eyes looked maddening as the words first year they'd chained up, over and over again in her head. If the Carrows had ever got near her in this reality, they would be greatly sorry.
Neville says and they tortured him pretty badly, that scared people off:
Ginny winched at this; he was her current boyfriend after all.
Ron and the twins grimace at this, though they definitely don't like this guy going out with their sister, they didn't want to hear that he was being tortured. Especially not when it was for trying to help the first years like this.
Neville says that's when they decided there was only one way to stop me, and they went for Gran:
"Well, I feel sorry for whoever they send after her," Sirius said, he had gotten on the wrong side of Mrs. Longbottom once (when he was visiting Frank for an Order mission) and she scared the hell out of him.
"You don't think she's in trouble?" Hermione said, looking worried.
"No … it would be like them sending someone to get McGonagall … they would have to have an army to bring her down," Sirius said.
Hermione relaxed after that.
Neville says it worked really well, kidnapping kids, I suppose it was only a matter of time before they did it the other way around:
"He has a point … you would do anything to keep your family safe, even give yourself up," Draco said.
"And you won't," Harry questioned him with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course, I would, Potter," Draco rolled his eyes.
Neville says Gran sent me a letter, telling me she was proud of me, that I'm my parent's son, and to keep it up:
McGonagall knew that this must have meant a lot to Neville to hear his grandmother said that, and she smiled herself at how confident Neville had seem to become. She was also trying to think about a way to make this confidence come out in this reality, too.
Mentions Harry could not recognize until he spoke Seamus's face was bruised and puffy:
Harry frowned, Seamus was still under the impression that he was a lying git and therefore Harry wasn't sure what to feel about him being there. Still, he really didn't like to hear about him being hurt.
Seamus says Neville's really gets this room, you've got to ask for exactly what you need, like, I don't want any Carrow supporters to be able to get in:
"Mm ..." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"I think we should try to do that …" Hermione said and when he still looked at her confused, she added, "close the loopholes. I don't know, but it just feels like it would be safer for us to make sure the toad, or anyone else," her eyes traveled reflexively to Draco, "can't barge in on us."
"But how would she even know what we're up to?" Harry questioned.
"I don't know," Hermione said uncomfortably. "But if we are caught … it would be disastrous."
"And it's better to be safe than sorry," Tonks added.
Ron says yeah, well, food's one of the five exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration:
Everyone in the room was indeed looking at Ron in astonishment.
"What … Mione told me about this …" Ron said, his ears turning red.
"Yes, we remember Hermione telling you about this," Fred said. "We're just surprised that you remembered it."
"But I supposed we shouldn't be," George added thoughtfully, "after all it does involve food …"
"Ha, ha, very funny," Ron glared at them and everyone else that was laughing.
Seamus says the room makes more hammocks every time we need room and even sprouted a pretty good bathroom once girls started turning up:
"What the hell did they use before the girls turned up!" Tonks asked.
"I don't know," Charlie said, laughing alongside his brothers and Sirius.
Harry says plan? Well, there's something we need to do, and then we'll get out of here:
"They're not going to like hearing that," Fred mumbled.
"Of course not, they have no idea what war is really like," Molly shook her head. "They wouldn't be so willing to fight if they knew what was really going to happen."
"We might not know that, not completely," Fred said. "But if we did, we would still be in that room."
"You're not in that room Fred," Charlie pointed out.
"But I will be," Fred said confidently. "I'm sure all of us will."
"Don't say that," Molly moaned, she couldn't bear it if one of her children … no she couldn't even think it.
George started reading again.
Neville says then we'll help you:
"I think that might be a good idea," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"But …" Harry started to argue.
"No, she's right," Ron said. "Obviously we can't tell them everything … but seeing as we have no idea what we're looking for or where to find it, it might be useful to get some help."
Harry says we can't tell you, we've got to do it alone and Neville asks why:
"Yeah, Harry, let us help you!" Fred said.
"You don't have to do everything on your own!" Ginny added.
"Helping me would only put them in danger," Harry said sadly, "I would want to avoid that at all costs."
Nevills says everyone in here's proven they're loyal to Dumbledore … loyal to you:
"Wow Harry, it looks like you've got real followers now," George chuckled, but Harry frowned, he wasn't comfortable with the idea of having people willing to fight with him … for him.
After Luna arrives Neville says I sent for her, I promised her and Ginny:
"Hmph," Molly grimaced.
"Molly this is a good thing," Arthur said softly. "It means the Order will know what is going on in the castle too … I have a feeling we will be needed."
Michael Conner says you're going to leave us in this mess:
"Git," the twins grumbled.
"I thought you were on his side … you want to convince the trio to let them help you," Sirius chuckled.
"Doesn't mean this guy isn't a git," Fred shrugged.
"You're just saying that because he's my boyfriend," Ginny rolled her eyes.
"What?!" Charlie said. "Oh, they're right, this guy is a git!"
"I actually think that suits you better Charlie bear," Tonks chuckled.
"Actually, I was saying that because this guy is talking to Harry as if it's his fault Hogwarts is all messed up!" Fred said.
"Oh … then yeah, he is a bit of a git," Ginny chuckled, she was finding it hard to remember how much she actually like Michael after the realization that Harry could possibly like her.
Mentions Harry's heart seemed to fall when he saw Ginny was now climbing through the hole in the wall:
Molly moaned at these words.
"Well, I'm glad you're happy to see me," Ginny grumbled.
"Gin … you're probably the last person I want to be there," Harry sighed.
"Because you want me to be safe," Ginny narrowed her eyes at him.
"I know it's wrong," Harry said not meeting her glare, "but that doesn't mean I could stop myself from feeling that way."
"What I don't get is why you're okay with Ron and Hermione being in danger and such, but you think I need to be sheltered from everything," Ginny glared at him. "You can't tell me that you don't care about them a great deal."
"Of course, I do," Harry said, "I don't think I would be able to stand if … something happened to either of them. But they've always been by my side … I think it would actually feel wrong if they weren't there with me."
"Whatever."
Mentions closely followed by Fred, George:
"Yeah … we're there," the twin said.
Again, Molly moaned at this, but this time she was also glaring at the twins, "I can't believe that you two have brought your sister here! What were you thinking!"
"Actually, it seems just as likely that Ginny was the one that informed them," Remus said reasonably, "she was the one with the coin."
"We have coins too," the twins interrupted.
"Checking to see if she had a message sent to her by Neville," Remus continued.
"Be that as it may, it was very irresponsible of you to bring your underage sister here!" Molly huffed.
Mentions that Ginny gave Harry a radiant smile, he had forgotten, or had never fully appreciated how beautiful she was:
"Well, at least he thinks you're beautiful," Fleur pointed out and Ginny couldn't stop herself from blushing.
Mentions that after Lee Jordan came Harry's old girlfriend Cho Chang, she smiled at him:
This time Ginny grimaced.
"And he didn't mention how good she looks," Fleur pointed out again and that modified Ginny's mood slightly.
Harry on the other hand felt a twist in his stomach at the mention of Cho, but now he felt more confused than ever. He still liked Cho, he could feel that, but he was starting to have feelings for Ginny … he just wasn't sure what, yet.
Hermione says I think Ron's right, we need them, you don't have to do everything alone, Harry:
"I do believe that we have already told you all this, young Harry, and yet you insist on doing things by yourself," George said gravely.
"It's just what I'm used to," Harry shrugged. "I mean besides Ron and Hermione; I don't really tell anyone anything."
"Why is that?" Sirius questioned.
"Oh … I tell you things too Sirius," Harry corrected himself.
"That's good to know," Sirius's grin seemed to prove how much he really did like hearing Harry say that, "but I was actually asking why you only tell them … and now me … things like this."
Harry was thoughtful for a long time before he said, "I'm not really sure … but I supposed it has something to do with the fact I can trust them with my life. I mean after you face a twelve-foot mountain troll and survive to tell about it you sort of learn to trust each other."
"Mountain troll?" Sirius questioned.
"It's a long story," Harry sighed, "and the main thing that came out of it was that we all became friends after that."
"I see," Sirius said and then asked, "Then how come you trust me so much."
Harry shrugged again, "you broke out of Azkaban just because you thought Pettigrew would want to hurt me … I think that earns you some trust."
Mentions but Dumbledor had trusted Snape, and where had that led, to murder at the top of the highest tower:
Severus flinched at these words as everyone turned to look at him, realizing as they did that their doubts about this man's loyalties had vanished somewhere while reading this book.
Harry asks if anyone seen an object that might have belonged to Ravenclaw and might have her eagle on it, and it was Luna that answered:
"Of course, it was Luna that answered," Fred smiled. "That's because she's the coolest Ravenclaw there is."
Luna says there's her lost diadem, I told you about it, daddy's trying to duplicate it:
"Oh … so that crown thingy at the Lovegood was this lost diadem," Charlie said frowning.
"I would say that it wasn't a very good representation of the diadem," McGonagall frowned.
"Have you seen it then?" Harry asked hopeful.
"No, it has been lost for centuries, Potter," she answered.
Cho says Professor Flitwick says the diadem vanished with Ravenclaw herself, people have looked but nobody's ever found a trace of it:
"Well obviously they're wrong," Percy said. "It wouldn't be the chapter title if the Horcrux wasn't this lost diadem."
"Well, obviously they don't know that Perce," Bill said, chuckling, "seeing as they don't get the benefit of seeing the chapter titles."
Mentions but Harry cut across Luna:
"Don't be rude Harry," Fred glared at him.
"I don't think I have time to hear one of Luna's stories," Harry said, slightly amused by Fred's defense of Luna.
Cho says if you want to see what the diadem's supposed to look like, I could take you to our common room and show you, Harry:
"Hm … I think she's trying to make another move on you Harry, you better watch out Ginny, you've got some competition now," George said laughing as Harry and Ginny blushed. Ginny was also looking very annoyed.
Harry says I'm going to go look at the statue, wait for me here and keep, you know the other one safe:
"You aren't going to take us with you," Ron said looking apprehensive.
"It would be dangerous if four of us are wandering the halls," Harry pointed out, looking uncomfortable with this too. After all, he had just said that he trusts few people and though he liked Cho, it just wasn't the same.
After Cho gets up Ginny says no Luna will take Harry, won't you, Luna:
Everyone was laughing at that.
"Way to raise to the challenge Gin!" Sirius said.
"Thanks," Ginny said blushing again, and trying not to look too pleased. Of course, this also had to do with the fact that Harry was chuckling and didn't seem to be upset that she was interfering in who gets to take him.
"I don't think I mind that much," Harry said, feeling somehow that he did … or was it should … trust Luna to cover his back.
Mentions that Harry had prowled the castle at night before, but never had so much depended on his safe passage through the place:
"And never had the danger been so high … you don't have to fear detention if you get caught … you would likely be tortured and definitely be handed over to Voldemort," Tonks said.
"Thanks, Tonks, for sharing all that with us," Charlie said and she smiled at him sheepishly.
After Luna knocked and the eagle says which came first, the phoenix or the flame:
"That's like the chicken and the egg," Hermione mumbled to herself.
"Why did it ask that?" Ron questioned.
"This is how you get into the Ravenclaw's common room," McGonagall explained.
"It asked you a question like this every time you have to get into the common room," Hermione said excitedly.
"Yes … each time a different questioned, "McGonagall said a little annoyed at Hermione's obvious excitement, you would think the girl didn't like being Gryffindor with the look she was giving.
Harry asks what if you get it wrong and Luna says you have to wait for someone to get it right, that way you learn:
"Yes, I do see," Hermione smiled.
"So, what's the answer to the question?" Ron asked.
"Well, if it's actually like the chicken in the egg, I would have to said the chicken, because genetically speaking ….:
"Oh, never mind," Ron cut her off, no one need a lecture about this right now. Hermione glared at him.
Luna says I think the answer is that a circle has no beginning and the voices says well-reasoned:
"Yes, that is a good answer," Hermione agreed.
"It doesn't sound like the one you would have given," Ron pointed out.
"You know Ron, now that she's actually your girlfriend, you might want to stop pissing her off so much," Bill advised his youngest brother.
Mentions that Alecto Carrow pressed a stubby forefinger to the skull and snake branded on her forearm:
"NO!" everyone screamed this time.
"That was the end of the chapter," George said, and Ron reached over and grabbed the book from him.