CHAPTER 18
HALLOWEEN 1991 - PART 1
31 October 1991 - 7:00AM
Harry quietly sat in his bed, gently stroking Selma's scales whilst his serpent friend nibbled on bits of dried apple, hissing in satisfaction. It was finally Halloween, a day he'd been dreading. It was also considered Victory Day, the day Jim Potter vanquished You-Know-Who. Tonight's feast would likely be particularly impressive, since it was Brother Dearest's first year at Hogwarts. Sighing, Harry thought back to the events of the past few weeks, quietly reviewing his memories.
Hermione and Neville's study group had grown in number, with Pavarti Patil, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnigan from Gryffindor, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Susan Bones from Hufflepuff, along with Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil from Ravenclaw. Harry had noted that Padma was not on the friendliest terms with Pavarti, the two often exchanging frosty glances. Not for the thousandth time, Harry wondered whether magical twins ran hot or cold – either practically sharing a brain like the Weasley Twins or else at each other's throats like the Patils or the Potters. As it stood, Harry remained the only Slytherin who wanted anything to do with the group, with Blaise and Theo still deftly avoiding participation.
The group had split their time between studying course material and discussing the relative differences between Muggle and Wizarding education. The topic of Wizarding Child Services and the Magical Youth Liaison Program. Most (with the exception of Hermione and Justin) were already aware of Uncle Tom's Program, especially Dean and Seamus, the other Muggleborns in the group. They were able to attend Hogwarts through the Program's Hogwarts Funds, which had provided the boys full academic scholarships. Both were inclined to be more studious than they otherwise would have been in order to achieve the necessary grades - Acceptables or higher - in order to retain their scholarships, and had immediately taken Lavender Brown up on the offer to join the study group.
Naturally, this had led to Hermione and Justin asking several more questions about The Program, with Harry providing a necessary rundown. The Program was established in 1951, a year after Tom Riddle had claimed the Gaunt Seat in the Wizengamot and become Lord Gaunt. The Program was a privately run charity that, by Ministry mandate, worked together with Wizarding Child Services to provide scholarships and additional funding for underprivileged magical youth, regardless of blood scholarships extended through post-grad, providing tuition support for the Auror Program, Mastery pursuits, and any other academic and professional pursuits deemed worthy of undertaking. Lord Gaunt served as its CEO and President, and worked with a hand-selected Board of Trustees to ensure the organization's smooth management. Charity Burbage served as CFO and managed the Bursary, along with Abacus Wright and Juno Warbeck. Severus Snape (Lord Prince) served as the Chief Academic Advisor, along with the Academic Advisory Team comprised of Lily Evans, Qiao Li (Ravenclaw Sue Li's father), Horace Slughorn, Andromeda Tonks, Bertie Higgs, Edrea Fawley, Tristan Fenwick, Davina Brocklehurst, and Piccola Haywood, all of whom helped handle logistics when dealing with Masteries, Auror Program, etc. Legal was handled by Libra Kolumbiko (Seneschal Gaunt), and the entire organization was supported by various administrators, along with external consultants for 'special projects'. The Program also provided provisional housing and boarding in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley for Hogwarts students (and alumni) who experienced home and food insecurity at any point in the year. Harry had expressed the overwhelming majority of the Program's beneficiaries were Muggleborns and Halfbloods, to varying looks from the assembled students.
Harry had further explained that the reason Justin and Hermione had not been made aware was more than likely due to their socioeconomic status, which both had begrudgingly agreed to. To ease their discontent, Harry had informed them The Program would be hosting a Reunion Seminar in early December, allowing The Program's benefactors to reconvene with students who utilized any of The Program's services. Additionally, it allowed new students who were interested the chance to learn more about the additional offerings the Program provided.
Selma suddenly stopped nibbling on her snack and slowly unfurled from her pillow next to Harry, moving to curl up on his chest, tickling his nose with her tongue. Giggling, Harry continued stroking her scales. Thinking about the study group, Harry felt his irritation grow at his increasingly precarious position in Slytherin House. Though he was doing well academically, many of his Slytherin House peers - the diehard pureblood bigots - very vociferously expressed their disdain for his continued association with what they deemed 'the undesirables' of Hogwarts, especially his friendships with Hermione and Neville. Malfoy, much to Harry's great disappointment, led the charge for his increasing social decline in his own House. Even Daphne and Tracey behaved rather coolly towards him, both demanding that they were back on a last name basis, in spite of Uncle Tom's enduring allyship with Daniel Greengrass. His mother and uncles had been no help, all rather glibly telling him that "this too shall pass", and that he was more than capable of ensuring it were to pass, securing his position amongst his peers. Harry had only felt slightly better when Lily had comforted him with a hefty slice of double treacle apple pie and a warm hug.
"Well, no time like the present to get it all over with." Planting a small kiss on Selma's head and hissing a goodbye, Harry gently placed her back in her terrarium and went about preparing for the day.
Great Hall - 7:55AM
Slowly chewing his omelet, Harry casually observed the Great Hall. He had been right in his initial assessment that the Hall would be decked out in All Hallows Eve finest; massive pumpkins were placed in the corners of the hall, charmed with jack-o-lantern spells that displayed playfully animated faces. Smaller pumpkins decorated the dining tables, along (to Harry's delight) glossy ripe red apples, along with decorated wreaths of red berries, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. The elves had outdone themselves with large delicious loaves of Barmbrack, a sweet dark tea cake spiced and speckled with berries, dried fruits, and nuts.
Making brief eye contact with a rather somber Lily, Harry was pleased to see her give him a small smile, in spite of her downed mood. Halloween was her least favorite day of the year, forever stained by memories of a killer dark lord and the demise of the Potter family as she knew it. Harry quickly looked over in Professor Quirrell's direction, refusing to let his eyes linger. The pervasive wrongness he felt from the man still lingered, and Harry made note of every instance he'd witness the man's eyes flash with that same danger he'd detected weeks prior. He'd noticed that Quirrell would glare rather intently at Jim's direction, the boy completely clueless. Harry didn't know whether to be amused or concerned.
Speaking of which, Harry's eyes landed on the Gryffindor Table and unfortunately, made contact with Brother Dearest, who (along with Lackey Weasley) just sneered at him, an expression Harry gladly returned. Since (unfairly) joining the Gryffindor Quidditch Team as the 'Youngest Seeker in a Century', Jim appeared to be behaving in a much more 'appropriate manner, losing no more points and seemingly more involved in his studies. "Appeared" being the operative word; now knowing that his churlish tantrums would get him nowhere fast, Jim had become surprisingly more Slytherin in his approach at goading and annoying Harry. He'd successfully ingratiated himself with the Weasley Terrors (as the Slytherins dubbed the Twins), readily convincing them to prank the Snakes (especially Harry) with an unyielding vengeance. Harry had spent half of the previous week walking backwards everywhere, much to his great annoyance when multiple applications of 'Finite Incantatem' didn't work.
The same week had seen the Slytherin First Years being compelled to refer to each other as "Junior Death Eater" every time they spoke to one another, their voices uncommonly loud when in the Great Hall. Both Professors Snape and Evans had paid the Twins back in kind, vindictively deducting points when the Twins openly laughed in their presence. Fred and George did not prank Neville and Hermione out of House loyalty, but their actions had caused a cold war amongst the Gryffindor First Years. Neville, Hermione, Parvati, Lavender, and Cormac were on one side, with the remaining girls and boys on the other. Even Dean and Seamus had stopped coming to the study sessions, awkwardly citing 'Lion Pride' as the reason.
Sighing, Harry quickly finished his breakfast and made his way to the Greenhouses for Herbology. As he made his way over, he noticed the Weasley Twins waiting and watching, in a rather poor attempt to be subtle. Feigning casualness, Harry heard a soft hiss to 'Look Out for the Cursed Tiles!' from his right, from the tapestry depicting St. Patrick purging the snakes out of Ireland. Harry slowed... and then took a running jump to clear the group of floor tiles that the snake had warned were hexed.
"Potter, do stop dawdling like a Muggle fool," drawled Draco from just behind him. Not dignifying him with a response, Harry patiently waited, internally snickering when he heard a loud crackle of magic followed by cries of dismay. Turning, he saw Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson all sporting impressive Dumbledore-esque beards of Gryffindor red and gold, their hair growing long to match.
"The Weasley Terrors, as you can see for yourself." Harry said in a bored voice. "At least pretend to be aware of your surroundings Malfoy, lest you end up permanently maimed in Gryffindor's best." Harry casually gestured to their beards, internally cackling at their looks of horror upon seeing their beards. "Now, might I suggest the Infirmary? Madam Pomfrey can remove… whatever that is before it soaks in. Or, you can look like long-lost Weasley-Dumbledore cousins for the remainder of the week, if you're lucky. Your choice." And he sneered rather impressively, causing Draco to snarl and storm off, trailed by Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson. As they left, Harry felt Daphne sidle to his left, not turning to acknowledge her until she spoke.
"How on earth did you know the Weasleys had put a trap there?" she asked, her tone incredulous.
Harry shrugged and then lied, not bothering to even look in her direction. "Just something we losers figured out in our loser study group. I'm certain someone as clever as you would have figured out on your own." He paused before slowly turning to look at her, his expression coldly aloof. "If not, I suppose you'd look somewhat fetching with Weasley red hair." She glared before huffing and flouncing away. Rolling his eyes, Harry then turned and walked boldly in the Twins' direction, hoping that Egbert's (the gossipy Chatty Kathy snake who hung in a tree of a painting on the third floor that overlooked the Twins' shenanigans) memory and eye for detail were as good as he claimed. "Gentlemen, a moment of your time?"
The Twins, who had been both amazed and annoyed at how casually he'd evaded their prank, straightened up.
"Oh? And what might us two..." "Innocent little Gryffies ..." "Want to say to..." "A mean little snake like you?" Harry tilted his head in genuine curiosity, morbidly fascinated at their ability to maintain twin-speak at all times, even the inappropriate ones. Not for the thousandth time, he was somewhat glad he and Brother Dearest were estranged, internally shuddering at the thought of them behaving in a similar manner.
"Weeeeeell, I'd like to try diplomacy for a start. Have I, in fact, done anything to anger you two or to deserve the somewhat aggressive level of pranking I've had to endure for the last month? Because if so, I'll gladly apologize and make amends. If not, of course, I'll have to assume the worst – that you two have simply and rather easily agreed to become Jim's attack dogs and come after me for no reason but his pettiness. Which, quite frankly, is rather pedestrian." The twins exchanged a quick glance before turning to glare at him.
"Gryffindors stick together, little snakey Potter," said one of them with surprising coldness. Harry's eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the twin who'd spoken. Said twin started to fidget, growing increasingly discomforted at the intense stare of the not-so-easily cowed Firstie.
"Attack dogs it is. Well, Slytherin's don't stick together. So, you can go after my house-mates to your hearts' content, but do leave me out of it. Because Circe help me, if I do fall victim to one more hex, jinx, or any of the other ridiculous pranks you two cook up, I will gladly tell Professor Snape about The Map."
That immediately got their attention, their postures immediately turning rigid and faces growing red in anger and alarm. And while the Twins were pretty good at acting innocent, they were not prepared for a First Year Slytherin threatening their most treasured secret. After a few seconds of eye-goggling, one of them ("The one with the tiny mole next to his left eye," Harry noted for future reference) finally said nervously, "W-What Map?"
"Oh, do you have more than one? Interesting." He pretended to think it over, inwardly snickering at their panicked expressions. "The one I'm talking about is activated by ... oh what were the words? Something like 'I swear I'm up to no good.' No! 'I solemnly swear I'm up to no good.' That's how it goes, right?" He tilted his head in seeming innocence, barely resisting the urge to cackle at the dumbfounded expressions they bore. Internally, Harry sung Egbert's praises for his keen perception, memory, and proclivity to gossip, idle or otherwise.
"Listen you two. I don't desire to be your enemy. To be honest, I'm a fan, especially when it doesn't involve me and especially when you don't cross the line from 'playful amusement' to 'cruel bullying.'' They actually looked a bit hurt at that, and Harry barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Tell you what; just how good could your work be if you received a bit of, say, financial assistance?"
Their eyebrows shot up and that, and the one without a mole asked, "Are you offering us a bribe to not prank you?!" His expression genuinely incredulous.
Harry made a point of looking mildly offended. "Think of it more so as a… 'gratuitous business investment' and less 'protection money'. I'll pay you two a galleon a week to keep me out of your pranks. If Jim asks, just tell him that Professor Snape has been looking out for my wellbeing and it'd be entirely too risky. And no, I will not help you prank other Slytherins in turn."
They exchanged a quick loaded glance before responding in unison. "Two galleons." Harry tilted his head and stared unblinkingly, internally pleased to see them fidgeting. He spoke a few moments later.
"Fine, we'll make it two galleons, even. And for that price, you also leave Theo Nott alone as well. He doesn't deserve it."
They both stiffened. "His father was a Death Eater," said Mole Weasley.
"I'm quite aware, thanks." Harry said calmly. "And believe me when I say that Fate played him a crueler trick by giving him that wretched bastard for a father than you could come up with on your worst days."
Their eyes widened and then they nodded solemnly. They understood. "It's a deal." "No pranks or jokes on ickle firstie snake Potter." "Or ickle firstie snake Nott." They shook on it, Harry watching their hands like a hawk to ensure no foul play. "Now then, tell us, how did you find out about the Map?"
Harry smiled with all his teeth, startling the twins. He then leaned in conspiratorially. "Let's just say ... 'snake' spelled sideways is 'sneak.' Until next time, gentlemen." And with that, he winked cheekily and sauntered off, completely unaware of the quiet admiration and grudging respect he'd earned from the notorious pranksters.
Herbology Class - 9:20 AM
"Excellent answer Mr. Longbottom, take five points for Gryffindor." Neville beamed at Professor Sprout, pleased with having provided the correct answer and just generally being back in his comfort zone
Neville was, as usual, on top of his game in Herbology, having won ten points so far for Gryffindor. Harry (and Hermione) threw him encouraging and proud glances, glad their friend was seemingly on the mend. The past few weeks had been particularly rough on the Gryffindor, still making no progress in his own wand work, yet steadfastly refusing to tell his grandmother about the issue with his (not) wand. He thankfully hadn't quit the study group, but now, he barely made any effort in Charms and Transfiguration, refusing to complete homework assignments and barely paying attention in class. He'd lost quite a few points for his lack of effort, and eventually, had earned a Howler from his grandmother during the previous week. Though he'd been lucky to have been in his room when the Howler arrived, he had been very put out by the letter. Not for the thousandth time, Harry cursed the existence of the obnoxious piece of mail.
Soon enough, the sound of soft wind chimes sounded in the classroom, signaling the end of class. Putting away their notes, Harry noticed Neville immediately become tense, before the boy asked Harry if he would mind using his free period to help him with the Levitation Charm, which they would be reviewing once more in Charms. Hermione had been helping him to no avail, so he thought Harry might have some insights as he'd been the first Slytherin to master the spell in class. Harry had of course, immediately agreed. Unfortunately, as they were leaving the greenhouse, an unwelcome voice intruded.
"That stupid slimey little snake won't be able to help you, squib," said Jim from behind them. "Heck, he's not much more than a squib himself." Both Neville and Harry turned as one to see a fuming Jim, who paused to level a rather impressive sneer.
"Our points earned so far would seem to show who's the better wizard, Brother Dearest." Harry replied, leveling his own impressive sneer.
Jim's eyes flared. "Points aren't everything, Little Brother. And while your little study group has been playing around with whatever idiot , I've been getting real lessons from the upper years on the Quidditch team, along with my father." He sneered on 'my father' before whipping out his wand, waving it and saying "ACCIO REMEMBRALL!" To Harry and Neville's surprise, the glass globe slipped out of Neville's pocket and floated lazily through the air and into Jim's hand.
"That was a Fifth Year summoning spell, by the way." Jim preened, looking down at the globe in his hand. "I still remember the day I first saw this thing, Longbottom. While your buddy Harry was standing around slack-jawed, afraid to stand up to a filthy little Death Eater spawn like Malfoy, I was up in the air, facing him head on, risking my life to get this back to you." He took a few steps towards Neville and Harry, idly tossing the Remembrall in his hand as he did.
"I know I wasn't the nicest in the beginning," Harry's loud interrupting scoff caused Jim to scowl before continuing, "but I'm sorry for that. And I've gotten better, both at not acting out like I was and at working magic. Forget Harry and Granger and their stupid little club. Let me help you." He looked down smugly at the Remembrall. "After all, I've just proven that I'm better at magic than..."
"ACCIO REMEMBRALL!" Suddenly, it was Jim's turn to be surprised, as the orb shot out of his hands like a rocket and slapped into the waiting hand of Hermione, who had been standing off to the side out of sight.
Harry smiled, while Jim stared dumbfounded. "Nicely done," he said. "When did you learn that spell?"
"Just now actually! Well, you told me the incantation on the train but didn't know the wand pattern, which Jim kindly just demonstrated. It's not really hard at all. Just a double reverse swish as you say 'Accio' and then a ten-degree-above-horizontal flick in the direction of the target object as you describe what it is. Mass and especially range will probably be quite limited until we're older and our magic is stronger, but the basic spell is simple enough for nearby objects you can clearly see."
Harry tilted his head in consideration, before his own wand flashed "ACCIO REMEMBRALL!" The orb then shot out of Hermione's hand and into his own just as fast as it had for her. "Wow. That was easy." He looked up at Jim smugly. "Thank you Brother Dearest! You really are an excellent teacher!" He smirked before tossing the orb idly in his hand, watching in delight as Jim's face grew redder in his anger.
Jim was speechless. It had taken him two days to master the charm that Hermione and his brother had just performed effortlessly after watching him demonstrate it once. Finally, he shook off his surprise in favor of anger. "Bugger off snake!" he said. "And you two traitors can go with him!" Then, he turned and stalked off, with Lackey Weasley bringing up the rear.
Harry shook his head and handed the Remembrall to Neville, but he was surprised when the orb immediately turned a very dark and angry red that shimmered and pulsed angrily in Neville's hand.
"That… that cannot be good, can it?" Harry asked, his voice quietly concerned.
"No, it cannot. It's been doing that for the past few days. Makes sense really, I've been more forgetful these days." said Neville quietly.
"Come on, Nev. Don't listen to a word Brother Dearest says." said Harry.
"I'm not Harry. I don't really have to, do I?" Neville said curtly.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a concerned glance. "Beg your pardon?" Harry said.
He exhaled in frustration. "Jim just did a Fifth Year spell, which was impressive enough even if he had upperclassmen teach it to him. You two? You just learned it yourselves just from watching him do it once! And you do it better than him! Meanwhile, I can't do anything in the First Year spell book!" He started walking away from the other two. "I'm thinking maybe I should write to Uncle Algie and see if there's a way for me to voluntarily step down as heir and just pass the lordship directly to him. Jim was right. I am a squib in every way that matters."
"Neville!" exclaimed Hermione, her expression aghast. "You can't give up!"
"Look! I'm grateful for all you've tried to do for me, both of you. But ... I just can't deal with this anymore. I'm… I'm just tired. Tired of being myself, tired of being pitied, and tired of having to even deal with all of this still. Just… focus on the others in the study group and leave me be. They might actually get something out of it." With a dejected and utterly defeated sigh, Neville turned and left. Glancing at each other with identical worried looks, Hermione and Harry hurried after their friend.. Neither noticed Theo Nott standing at the corner of the greenhouse, a look of deep concern on his face.
Charms Classroom - 11:42AM
Neville actually joined Harry up for the free period, and the two spent much of the hour practicing before the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Charms class. Sitting next to Hermione, he quietly reviewed the wand motions, hoping this time would be better than last. Unfortunately, it was not. After Professor Flitwick reviewed the Levitation Charm - its origins and incantation - Neville made many attempts to levitate his feather, but to no avail. His increasingly frustrated whispers of "Wingardium Leviosa," were for naught, as his feather remained still on his desk, refusing to move, He'd even asked Hermione for assistance, and after ensuring him that his wand movements and incarnation were all corect, his feather still refused to move.
Unsurprisingly, Hermione was the first to achieve a proper result – her feather floated up gracefully and then danced around the ceiling in response to her wand movements. The small gaggle of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff girls (for whom Hermione had become an unwitting role model) all clapped, and Flitwick awarded Gryffindor five points. Across the room, Jim and Ron rolled their eyes in unison, though neither were able to achieve the same result. Then, Flitwick turned to Neville, who swallowed and then glared down at his feather. He raised his wand and cast the spell perfectly. He squinted and focused the strength of his will on the feather, but nothing happened.
But Neville didn't release the spell. Instead, without taking his wand off the feather, he concentrated harder and poured more and more of his magical power into the spell he'd cast. He gritted his teeth painfully, and a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. The feather shook slightly. His face contorted into a mask of concentration and then a grimace of pain, causing both Hermione, Flitwick, and a few others in the class to become alarmed. Neville ignored them in favor of concentrating on his feather. The object in question vibrated slightly, almost as if it would become airborne. He heard Hermione, then Flitwick, call his name loudly in tandem, but he ignored them. He ignored the stinging sensation in his nose and the sudden flood of copper on his taste buds. Finally, as his vision began to blur, but suddenly, the feather slowly began to rise off the table! One inch, two inches, three, before it burst into flame, showering him and Hermione with bits of ash. Shaking, he collapsed in his chair, suddenly feeling so exhausted, and realizing that his nose and mouth were bleeding. Looking up, he saw the whole class staring in varying degrees of shock, with Flitwick and Hermione looking extremely alarmed.
"Dear boy, are… are you quite alright?" Flitwick asked gently.
Neville swallowed deeply and wiped his nose again, absolutely refusing to cry. "I'm… I'm not feeling too well, Professor. May I be excused to the Hospital Wing?"
Flitwick immediately nodded. "Yes, I believe that is best. Take as much time as you need."
Neville nodded, pocketing his wand and snatching his satchel, all but fleeing from the class. Just before he exited, he turned back to look at his classmates. Hermione was uncharacteristically pale, her kind eyes wide in genuine alarm. Ron Weasley just stared, his expression uncharacteristically concerned. Lavender, Cormac, Parvati, Dean, Seamus, and the rest of the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff First Years stared in varying expressions of shock and concern. And Jim Potter was looking right at him, through him, smirking imperiously. And then, the Boy-Who-Lived cruelly mouthed a single word that Neville didn't need to hear to understand. "Squib." Neville walked out the door and did not return to class that day.
Some hours later, Theo Nott stepped into the First Floor Boy's lavatory to wash his hands before dinner, starting in surprise when he saw Neville, sitting on the floor in the corner staring vacantly at his wand. His face was clean from his earlier nosebleed but it was obvious he'd been crying, his eyes red, splotchy, and exhausted. Theo quickly looked around to make sure no one else was in the room before he tentatively spoke. "Are... are you alright Longbottom?"
Neville didn't even look up. "I'm fine Nott. Please… just… just leave me alone."
Theo started to leave but then hesitated and turned back towards the other boy. "Um… I noticed your Remembrall this morning, after Herbology. It was ... red. Very red. And also pulsing."
"Yeah," Neville laughed bitterly. "Apparently, I'm very forgetful."
Theo bit his lip anxiously. Then, he moved a bit closer and knelt down to the floor so he could make eye contact. "Longbottom ... Neville ... has anyone ... ever explained to you what a Rememberall is actually for?"
Neville just stared at him in complete confusion. "Oh boy, here we go." Theo thought to himself.
Great Hall - 6:40PM
Harry poked around in his shepherd pie, not at all interested in eating. The elves had really outdone themselves, the tables teeming with a veritable feast, an abundance of food everywhere. His mind was occupied with thoughts of Neville, who he had yet to see since his impromptu tutoring earlier in the day. Suddenly, he felt a slight nudge in his foot, glancing up to see Malfoy staring disdainfully at him.
"Your little Mudblood Gryffindor friend is making a spectacle of herself trying to get your attention." he said, his expression growing more displeased.
Harry glared at him. "I do not appreciate the use of that word, Malfoy." His eyes flashed and Malfoy briefly flinched, before glaring back in equal measure.
"And I don't appreciate housemates who have greater loyalty to Gryffindors than Slytherins. And yet here we are."
"Surely you jest?! It's quite ironic, Malfoy, that you are so seemingly concerned about my house loyalty" he spat the words rather viciously, "when you've worked so hard to isolate me within it, Malfoy."
Before Malfoy could respond, a paper airplane landed on the table between the two of them, narrowly missing the gravy bowl. The words "To Harry! From Hermione!" were written on it. The two boys looked up from the airplane's direction to see Hermione waving at him.
"That's it," said Malfoy with a sneer. "Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy. We're moving. It's getting a bit too... muddy around here." He sneered tremendously and Harry returned the gesture, not feeling magnanimous in the slightest. Malfoy had been testing his patience for the past weeks, and Harry was not sure how long he could go without… retaliating. He watched as the four Slytherins relocated to the far end of the table. On the other side, all the other First Year Slytherins save Theo moved as far away from Harry as was possible. Frowning, Harry internally cursed Draco's name. He had hoped to lay low within Slytherin House for a while longer and continue learning the house's secrets before he made any sort of power play. Unfortunately, Malfoy seemed bent on forcing the issue, so a confrontation would likely happen quite soon, and Harry would not be holding back. It was decidedly annoying to say the least.
Harry turned his attention to Hermione's airplane which he unfolded to reveal a blank page. To his surprise, words in Hermione's elegant script faded into view.
"Harry, do you know where Neville is? I'm very worried about him. Tap the parchment three times and whisper your response and then tap the parchment twice more to send it back to me."
Harry eyebrows shot up in surprise, and then he replied.
"I haven't seen him since our study session during our free period. How in Merlin's name are you doing this?"
"A modified Switching Spell linking your parchment to the one I'm writing on. It's out of the Third Year curriculum, though I think this adaptation is from Fifth Year."
Harry chuckled. How these idiot Purebloods could even pretend to be superior while Muggleborn prodigies like Hermione stalked the school would forever be a mystery to him. He resolved to formally introduce her to his mother very soon.
"What is that?" asked Theo.
"Oh nothing. Just dear old Hermione Granger proving, once again, that everything Malfoy believes about blood purity is absolute bollocks." He laughed at Theo's shocked expression before asking "By the way, have you by any chance seen Neville recently?"
Theo nervously cleared his throat. "I saw him about an hour ago. He was in the first floor boys' bathroom. He was… he was very upset." Harry's brow quick in response, causing Theo to fidget nervously.
"I heard about the Charms class incident, but I hadn't gotten all the details. What did happen Theo?" Harry's penetrating gaze fixed directly on him, and Theo felt compelled to answer. and he had to leave class, but I haven't gotten any details."
"It was more than that. Harry, do you know what a Remembrall is for? Because Longbottom didn't until I told him earlier. I ... I realized he didn't and thought he ought to know. I hope I didn't make a mistake by telling him."
Harry's gaze grew more penetrating, though his eyes shined in concern. "Neville told me that a Remembrall lets you know when you've forgotten something important."
"Yes, but it's so much more than that." Theo looked around conspiratorially before whispering. "In the mid-1700's, a spell came into widespread usage called the Memory Charm, followed soon after by its close relative, the False Memory Charm. The former creates a targeted amnesia in someone. The latter replaces the erased memories with new ones of the spellcaster's choice. These spells caused a lot of problems at the onset. In fact, they were nearly declared Unforgivables, but they were deemed too valuable for use on Muggles in preserving the Statute of Secrecy to be banned completely. They aren't taught at Hogwarts, but you can get licensed by the Ministry to learn and use them. In spite of that, there are plenty of old pureblood families which have preserved them in grimoires, so they're still available to learn illegally if you have the right contacts." Theo fidgeted once more, growing concerned that Harry hadn't once blinked in his entire spiel.
"And the Remembrall protects against them?" Harry asked.
"Not… not exactly... it just lets you know when you've been hit by one. It's kind of a tradition in wealthy old Pureblood families, especially the really paranoid ones, to gift them to children starting at Hogwarts. Only the rich ones though, because they're pretty expensive. It's to hopefully prevent children from being mentally manipulated until they're old enough to develop psychic defenses. They turn a pale red if you've forgotten something naturally, a dark red if you've had memories erased or altered through magic," Theo swallowed, "and a very dark red if you've had lots of memories affected that way."
Harry paled then blinked. "Like Neville's did earlier today." His mind raced at the possibilities, none of them remotely good. "Can these memory alterations be reversed?"
"That's another thing Remembralls do. If you carry one with you at all times, it can gradually reconstruct memories that have been erased or altered by magic. It may take a long time depending on how extensive the alterations are and how powerful the wizard was that cast the spell. That's what the glow meant this afternoon. Longbottom's Remembrall has finally reconstructed his true memories and is ready to restore them."
Harry inhaled sharply. "Did you tell Neville how to do that?"
Theo grimaced. "Yes. For what it's worth, I did tell him that he should probably have someone with him when he restored his memories in case they were traumatic, but he insisted on doing it alone. I guess I should have come and told you anyway, but it seemed kind of... personal to him."
"Perhaps, but you still should have come and told me."
"Well, I'm sorry!" said Theo hotly. "I'm not used to all this.. all this ... kindness stuff. I wasn't raised for it!"
Harry smiled, eyes glowing in such kindness that Theo almost flinched. "I don't know, Theo. I think you may just have a knack for it." Then, he turned back to the parchment, tapped it, and whispered another message.
"Neville is in the first floor boy's toilets. He's very upset. I'll explain why on the way. We'll go as soon as the Feast is over." But just as Harry sent the message, the doors to the Great Hall flew open, and Professor Quirrell entered in a complete panic. He looked uncharacteristically frazzled; his long mane of hair was half undone from its usual braid, and his robes hung askew and crumpled on his body. He was half-limping half-running, and he bore a visage of such acute fright he looked to be ready to leave his own body.
"TROOOOLLLL! TROOOOOOLLL! TROLL IN THE DUNGEON! ... Just... thought you ought to know." And then, Professor Quirrell fainted!
Harry exhaled loudly. "Bugger." He turned to look at the Head Table, seeing his mother bearing a rather grim-faced expression, her wand already at the ready. Professor Snape whispered a few hurried words into her ear as she nodded, before sharply exiting as almost all the assembled students panicked very loudly. Headmaster Dumbledore shut them down with a few well-cast Caterwauling Charms, before using Sonorous to command the Prefects to ush their House students to return to their dorms. Quickly, he and Professor McGonagall made their exits. Sighing, Harry tapped the parchment again.
"Strike that. We go now. Slip away from the other Lions and meet me outside the Great Hall doorway."
Hermione nodded at him from across the room and then rose to leave with her house. Harry also rose, but then Lily Evan's voice rang out with a Sonorous Charm.
"Slytherins, kindly sit back down. Our Headmaster, in his untimely haste, has forgotten that our dorms - like the Hufflepuffs - are in the dungeons. We will remain here in the Great Hall, and once Ravenclaw and Gryffindor have made their exit, I will seal and ward the doors. No one, be they human or troll, will be entering or exiting until the situation is handled. Understood?" Her tone brokered no argument, and all Slytherins looked at each other in varying degrees of consternation. Finally, Rodney Montague, the Seventh Year Slytherin prefect, stood and nodded his agreement, as all the Slytherins sat down.
"Double Bugger," spat Harry ruefully. He closed his eyes and started muttering to himself as he rubbed his temples. "Need a distraction. Need a distraction from Mum. C'mon Harry! Think!"
Theo leaned in and put a hand to his shoulder. "Seriously?! Are you mad?!" he whispered urgently. "Are you seriously considering sneaking out of here, defying the prefects, defying your mother, and running off to find Longbottom when there's a troll on the loose?!"
Harry paused for a few beats, before opening his eyes and staring directly into Theo's." Neville is my friend, and he's in trouble. So I'm there for him. Just like you're my friend, and if you're ever in trouble, I'll be there for you." Harry said, his tone matter-of-fact and so… casual, that he was somewhat surprised when Theo jerked back, his eyes wide in shock. With a twinge of sadness, Harry realized the other boy had probably never had anyone offer him that degree of friendship before, and Harry resolved in that moment to be the exact kind of friend Theo could always rely on. Looking furtively around, Theo placed his hands under the table so no one could see as he removed the silver ring he always wore. He handed it stealthily to Harry.
"Put it on the third finger of your left hand. Then, when you're ready, take a deep breath and give it a half-twist. And then, move! It will only last while you hold your breath, and then it will have to recharge for a while. And when you next take a breath, everyone here will immediately notice you're gone. Now go!"
Without pause, Harry immediately put the ring on his finger, took the deepest breath he could, and twisted the ring. Nothing happened. He looked around and no one was paying him any mind. Looking up to the Head Table, he saw Lily preoccupied with watching the rest of the Slytherins. Slowly, he stood. No one turned in his direction. Carefully he stepped over the bench and moved towards the door. When it was clear that everyone was ignoring him completely, he ran, slipping through the gap just as the Slytherin and Hufflepuff prefects were closing the doors. As he ducked out, he noticed that Professor Quirrel was no longer laying on the floor where he'd fainted. Filing that away for later, Harry continued to hold his breath until he caught up with Hermione, who was hiding behind a suit of armor watching the receding troupe of Gryffindors as they headed towards their tower. Then, when his lungs were burning and he could hold it no longer, he let go with a gasp, and the girl jumped with a small "Eek!"
"Harry! Is that you?! Merlin, how did you do that?! We don't learn to cast invisibility spells until Fourth Year!" Harry stared at her in no small amusement, wondering if she recalled the Fifth Year Switching Spell she'd so casually used mere moments ago.
"Let's just say," said Harry between gasps of air, "that it was through the power of friendship and leave it there for now. Come on, we need to get to Neville before he ends up as a troll's nighttime snack."
As the two friends made their way to the boys' restroom, Harry filled Hermione in on what Theo had said about Neville's Remembrall.
"So someone has been tampering with Neville's memories on a repeated basis? That can't be good. No wonder his memory is so poor generally; I imagine repeatedly scrambling his mind around would have lasting negative effects."
"More than likely." Harry said grimly. Suddenly, the two were stopped as a noxious stench swept over them, forcing them to gag. From around the corner, they could hear a deep rumbling growl, the sound of smashing stonework ... and Neville Longbottom yelling of absolute terror. Internally cursing Quirinus Quirrell's name, Harry muttered bitterly under his breath, "'Troll in the dungeon. Thought you ought to know.'"
AN 1: And here's Part 1 of the Halloween Saga! Poor Neville, things will be sorted out soon enough!
AN 2: If I haven't already mentioned, Theo Nott will be played by a young Louis Hynes.
Next Up, Part 2!