The first thing Neville did after his Gran left, hoping he hadn't destroyed their relationship completely, was go up to the Gryffindor Common Room, to reverential looks that made what happened after the troll look good. Going up to his dorm, he pulled out his purse. Then he went to Harry and Alisaie's room, calling Hermione on Link Pearl as he went.
"Hello?" She sounded like she had been crying…
"You got back home alright?"
"Yes, but Mum and Dad are really angry at me. They woke up to me gone, and by the time I got home, they had read the Prophet. They're so angry they're threatening to pull me from Hogwarts completely," her voice dipped low and became more vulnerable, "I don't want to leave Hogwarts, Neville. I don't want to leave you all. You're my friends, my first friends."
"I won't let it happen," Neville promised, "if things get that bad, you can come with me and Gran, or Harry's supposed to buy a house over summer, you can stay there.
"Thanks Neville," Hermione sniffled, "I should go, I'm grounded."
"See you at the end of break."
Neville hung up, a worry in his gut now. Finally making it to Harry and Alisaie's room, he knocked. After a moment, a surprisingly soft "come in" came from the room, and Neville opened the door.
Alisaie was sitting on the bed, back against the wall, as Harry lay on the bed, head in her lap as she ran her hand through her hair.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Aetheric exhaustion. He put a lot of effort into killing Penthesilea. Prepping a spell as another job, then job changing five times in quick succession is a lot of effort, even for the Warrior of Light."
"Will he be ok?" Neville asked worriedly.
"Oh, he's probably already recovered and is just napping.. What did you want, Neville?"
"When I was a baby," Neville said, "I lost my parents. Not to death but… Well, they were tortured into insanity. They're stuck in St. Mungo's, in the Janus Thickey Ward for permanent spell damage."
"This must be hard for you to talk about," Alisaie commented.
"It's… Something I've never really shared with anyone. The reason I'm telling you this is to explain that, well, I know it makes you uncomfortable, but Harry and you are the closest thing to parents I've ever really known."
Alisaie stilled at that, hand running through Harry's hair stopping, "I'm touched you see me that way, but-"
"You don't have to feel the same," Neville cut her off, "I was just telling you how I feel."
"I'll need more time to feel the same way, I think," Alisaie said.
"Well, anyways, I was hoping you two would be willing to take me to Diagon Alley to get a new wand. Gran was making me use my dad's, and I feel like I should have my own."
"We can do that," Harry said, groggily, "We still had stuff to do in Diagon Alley when everything went wrong."
"H-how long were you awake for?" Neville stutterers.
"Since you were telling Alisaie about your parents," Harry said, "And as for saying we're the closest you have to parents, I'm a bit young, but I'm honored you feel that way and will do the best to live up to it. Let's go grab Raha and get going to Diagon Alley."
—
Neville stepped into Diagon Alley through the archway, all four of them covered in soot. G'raha ran his wand over each of them, banishing the soot as they went.
Luckily, in Neville's opinion, knowledge of what the Scions of the Seventh Dawn (and being considered a member of what seemed to be such an elite group made Neville's heart rise) looked like had yet to spread to the Wizarding World proper, as they had gone to bed before the reporters got there. He didn't think he was emotionally ready for how adults would treat him after last night. Would they attempt to coddle him? Treat him like a hero? Something else entirely?
Harry tossed his purse to G'raha, who caught it, "Raha, you mind picking out some furniture for us? Couches, some seats, stuff like that. Comfy."
"Not at all, Harry. I'm just glad you've started calling me Raha," G'raha said with a smile, walking away.
"I basically let you into my family when I have you the key, might as well use it," Harry called after.
"What did he mean by that?"
"'G'raha Tia' is essentially a short way of saying Raha, non-breeding Male of the Gryphon tribe," Harry explained as they made their way through the alley, "It's considered a serious faux pas to refer to a Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te by just their personal name unless you're exceptionally close. Raha's been trying to get me to drop the tribal name for almost a year now. I just didn't feel I had done anything to deserve it, but adding him to the people who can access my vault, making him family in all but name, made me feel comfortable enough to use it."
"Oh," Neville said, wondering if he would ever be close enough to G'raha to drop the G. Finally, they stopped in front of Olivander's, Harry putting a hand on Neville's shoulder and squeezing it gently, and pushed the three of them into a building Neville never expected to enter. Immediately, he could feel the Aether in the air, infusing his entire body. Any left over exhaustion from the night before fled his body. Harry and Alisaie found seats on rickety old chairs, while Neville stood there, waiting.
Finally, a small rolling ladder came into place, and a man with messy gray hair and silver eyes entered the main area. His eyes roamed over the trio before he gave a friendly smile and said, "Neville Longbottom. You're quite a bit late, what wand have you been using?
"My father's, sir," Neville said nervously.
"Oh, dear, what was Augusta thinking," Olivander tutted, "Ash, 10 and ⅓' inches, Unicorn Tail Hair. To give an explanation of what that means, Mr. Longbottom, Ash is one of the most loyal woods, it refuses to change owners for nearly anything, Unicorn Tail Hair has similar property. Loyal to a fault. I'm honestly surprised the wand hasn't wilted on you!"
"Wilted, sir?" Neville asked.
"Died," Olivander said, "Unicorn Hair is especially prone to it if mishandled, and combined with Ash, I could see them registering another wielder as being mishandled. But even if it weren't for those contributing factors, a wand never works as well as with its rightful owner. Mr. Potter, Holly, 11 inches, Phoenix feather, yes? And, ah, I'm afraid I don't know you miss-?"
"Leveilleur," Alisaie said, "I bought my wand at the Hogsmeade shop. Blackthorn, 11 inches, Phoenix Feather."
"I see," Olivander said, "Now, moving on to the focus of this trip, which arm is your wand arm, Neville?"
"I'm left-handed, sir," Neville said, and an enchanted measuring tape took his measurements all over. At the same time, Olivander walked up and down the isles, spindly fingers caressing many boxes before stopping on one, pulling it from the shelf.
Walking over he opened the box, "Cherry, lethal, if necessary, rare, has a temper, 10 ¾ inches, Unicorn Hair. Give it a wave."
Neville waved the wand, a feeling of energy running through him and throughout the shop, blowing Alisaie's braid back, causing Olivander to stagger and Neville to be lifted half an inch off the ground. On the other end of the link, Neville could hear the Voidsent cackle.
"Very good, Mr. Longbottom," Olivander clapped, "Very good indeed! A wand that fits you perfectly!" That'll be nine Galleons."
Before Neville could pull his purse out to pay, Harry placed a stack of Galleons on the counter, "On me, Mr Olivander."
"If you insist, Mr Potter," Olivander said, counting out nine from the stack of twelve and handing the rest back to Harry while Neville quietly marveled at Harry. When he said he would try to live up to the position, he meant it.
"Come on Neville, let's go get some ice cream while we wait for Raha."
Alisaie's eyes, if anything, lit up brighter than Neville had ever seen.
—-
Returning to Hogwarts was an eye opening experience for all of the Scions who had left after the battle. For Ron Weasley, it revealed one thing in particular.
Fame was bloody, hell. The first few weeks back they all could barely get to their classes in time as kids who had been there at the fight pointed them out, or stopped to shake their hands, and whispers followed them everywhere.
"He had a fairy during the fight, it was flying around him, I saw through the window."
"She blasted holes in them like it was nothing!"
"Longbottom killing that troll now makes sense, you should have seen him, fought like a man possessed!"
"The Prophet said they were called the Scions of the Seventh Dawn… What do you supposed the Seventh Dawn is?"
"Should have seen Potter, literally tore the head of the leader. Used a bunch of weapons too, that sword, a spear, spells I've never seen before, and then yeah, as I said, head right off like a Butterbeer bottle. Man's unhinged when he actually has to fight!"
Harry had taken, much as he had after Neville's first brush with fame, to bully his way through crowds so Ron, Hermione and Neville could get to class, though this time just approaching them squared up to do so was enough to split them before Harry had to get violent. Nobody wanted to be on the receiving end of the man who outfought something Dumbledore has struggled with.
The fact that Alisaie and Dumbledore had helped with the fight had apparently been lost in the retelling, to an affectionate "typical," from Alisaie. She was apparently used to being dwarfed by Harry in the limelight, and before this had all started, Ron would have found that bizarre.
Now, he wished people would focus on Harry over him. He was quickly realizing he wasn't cut out for fame like this.
The entire group was taking more and more time holed up in what was quickly becoming "the Scions' Wing". It was a place where they could enjoy peace and Quiet.
"Guys," Neville said suddenly, "I've been thinking… And I think Hagrid might have given away how to get past Fluffy."
"What makes you think that, Nev?" Fred called from the game of Triple Triad he was playing with Hermione.
"How often do you come across a dragon seller who would just [I]bet[/I] a dragon's egg? Especially to the only person in Hogwarts who would want something? Add in Hagrid being drunk, he was at a pub after all, and, well… If I were to go for the Stone, it'd be now. Most of the teachers are still recovering from injuries.
"So what do we do?" Ron asked.
"We go down tonight and steal the stone first," Neville said it was obvious, "Or see if it's been stolen so we can inform Dumbledore."
"Sounds like a fine idea, Mate", George snarked, "eight of us, only one or two should be eaten before we get passed."
"I'll handle Fluffy," G'raha offered, "shouldn't be too hard to incapacitate them and then follow along."
"Best if adults come along, in case there's anything you kids get caught in something you can't handle," Harry said.
"Adventure time," Alisaie said, almost sing-songily.
—
G'raha, Harry and Alisaie led the way, while Neville, Hermione and Ron hid under the Invisibility cloak and Fred and George crept along casually. Stopping at the door, George sent a quiet Alohomora at the door, which unlocked, stepping in, the trio whipped off their cloak and handed it to Harry, who stuffed it in his pocket.
"It isn't as big as Cerberus," Harry said casually, drawing Crownsblade off his back. You sure you don't want us to stay, Raha?"
"I'll be fine," G'raha said with a smile, "You get going once I knock it out of the way. Understand?
"Alright, Raha, catch up to us when you get the chance," Harry said. G'raha rapped his staff against the ground and threw back Fluffy and the harp that was, strangely, there. Harry immediately rushed forwards in the shockwave's aftermath and cleaved the lock holding the trapdoor in two. Throwing open the door, Harry barked.
"Move, Move, Move!" Everyone rushed into the exit and Harry caught G'raha's eye, before nodding and jumping down himself, shutting it as he went. G'raha stretched, before launching a series of chains at Fluffy as the three headed dog charged him. Fluffy was stopped right in front of G'raha as a bright light shone out of the shut trap door under Fluffy's paw.
"Now then," G'raha said, reaching out and tapping Fluffy's main head. The powerful sleep spell washed over the dog and caused it to collapse. G'raha walked over to the paw covering the trapdoor, and lifted it with his wand, slowly moving it out of the way so as to not wake Fluffy.
—
The group landed on a soft pile of plant matter, all of them sinking into it gently.
Then Alisaie felt a feeler crawl its way up her thigh and yelped. Given by the jerks everyone gave, they were undergoing a similar experience.
"It's Devil's Snare," hissed Hermione, "it's weak to fire, but we don't have any-
"Really, Hermione?" Harry said with a sigh, "Alisaie, if you would, dear?"
"Verflare!" Alisaie called out, and the room lit up with balls of fire. That caused the snare to retract itself, letting them all get to the floor and towards the doorway. They opened it, and found themselves in a room full of flying things.
Rushing to the next door, George and Hermione, simultaneously, tried to use Alohomora on it, only for the door to not budge. Next, Harry gave it a heavy kick, only for the door to pulse and throw them all back in a wave of force, throwing Harry the hardest, until he smashed back first against the wall.
"Are you alright?" Alisaie called, rushing over.
"Back hurts," Harry groaned.
"Vercure," Alisaie cast, then lifted Harry up.
"Thanks," Harry gave her a kiss, before looking around, "brooms!"
"Brooms?" George said, but what for?
Alisaie squinted up at the things on the ceiling, they looked almost like… "Keys! Those are keys up there!"
Harry's eyes immediately jumped skyward and he watched silently for a moment, before jabbing his finger at the sky, "Right there, that one with the crushed wing! Someone go catch it!"
"If only we had a Seeker with us," Fred groaned, climbing on one of the brooms alongside the other two Weasley. It took them nearly twenty minutes to catch the key, by which point G'raha had joined them. Shoving it into the lock, they twisted it and unlocked the door, letting them all in to the next room was a giant-
"Chess," Harry growled, walking onto the middle of the board, "We don't have time to play chess."
"Then what do we do?
"Raha, Alisaie and I will stay behind and break them. The rest of you go ahead, we'll catch up," Harry finished that statement by switching to Monk, lunging forwards and grabbing the pawns in front of the door by the face and smashing them into the King and Queen pieces, "Go! Go now!"
The younger Scions followed the orders, rushing towards the door as all the pieces came to life. Hermione hit it with a Bombarda Maxima to force it open as Harry stretched.
"Why do I love you again?" Alisaie snarked good-naturedly.
"Twenty Eight to three," G'raha said, "Should be an easy day of work."
"Don't encourage him, G'raha," Alisaie said as she ran Hailstorm through an approaching pawn's face, before hitting another with a verfire.
—
Fred led the way through the doorway, bow drawn as they crept towards a foul smell. Finally they came across a massive troll… Already knocked out and the door behind it hanging open. Rushing as a group, they entered the room and shut the door. Approaching the bottles in the center of the room, fires ignited in their way, one Fred was pretty sure a Flame Freezing Charm wouldn't affect. Finding a scrap of paper, he and George began to read through it,
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onwards neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight."
Quickly doing the math, Fred lifted the small bottle, "This one. It's almost empty, someone's definitely been through here before us. We'll each need to take a drop, and hope that's enough for the potion. Let's go.
They did so, bursting through the flames of find…
Quirinus Quirrell
Hogwarts Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor.
