It's been so long, my lovelies 3 Welcome to the third instalment of Of Badly Hidden Lies (and Cool Magic shit). May I present to you:
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Of Telling Truths (and Magical Falsehoods)
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It was a beautiful summer afternoon, as it usually was at Longbottom Manor. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, passing through the windows and illuminating every space available. The air was warm though slightly humid, and the leaves on the trees were rustled by a gentle breeze.
Where were Harry and his friends?
Inside of course!
Hermione meticulously poured over every book the matron had, reading everything and writing down what she thought was important. Ron was by her side, murmuring to her quietly as he carved runes into a practice sheet, each one losing its glow as he wrote another. Neville was by Harry's side, as usual, watering the library plants and letting his vines twirl around his hands and wrist. Harry sat next to him silently, hand raised as he tried to bring a pencil towards him. He had managed to do it wandlessly, but now he needed to do it wordlessly. He just hoped he could figure it out, and soon.
The doors of the library slammed open, a peeved-looking Augusta Longbottom standing in front of them. Her arms were crossed as she scanned the room, eyes zeroing in on the four teenagers.
"I have walked past this door seven times and haven't heard a peep! A single peep!" The woman raved, throwing her hands up. "You're teenagers! You're supposed to be wreaking havoc, no matter the circumstances."
"Granny-"
"I don't want to hear it! You are all going out, you hear me? Out! You're going to.. I don't know! Underage drink, steal a muggle car, set one on fire for all I care!"
They all sweatdropped.
"You want us to go out?" Neville looked flabbergasted. "In the muggle world!?"
"You'll be safer there than any other place. Those two can be your guides." She gestured at Hermione and Harry. The two were lost, twin looks of confusion marring their faces. "You need to go out and have fun, relax a little bit before you go missing for the next year."
The sullen feeling returned, and they knew she was right. They hadn't done anything since their sixth year ended. Hermione hadn't even visited home, oddly enough. She was right, they needed out, even if it was just for a moment.
"Alright, let's do it." Neville said, trying to sound cheerful. "We deserve a break anyway!"
"You do," Augusta agreed, handing him a stack of bills. "This is muggle currency, go crazy. I don't want to see a single cent when you get back. And don't be back before night!"
Harry couldn't help but laugh as the flustered Neville took the money. Augusta smiled at them all, leaving the library as they thought about their plans.
"So, where do we go?" Ron asked.
"London?" Hermione offered. "I know it pretty well."
"London it is!" Neville said with a grin. The four linked arms, walking out of the library and to the front door. When they realised they couldn't get out, they stared at each other awkwardly and released each other's arms, laughing loudly afterwards.
"London's only a thirty-minute walk from here," Hermione said, casting a direction spell. Hermione and Ron were both free to use magic now, and the two boys were a bit annoyed they couldn't yet. Augusta was right when she said it wasn't worth the risk, but Harry was still a little jealous. "Oh, here!"
Hermione waved her wand, changing how all three of them looked. Now they were all different shades of brunette and in common muggle clothing. They'd fit in nicely like this.
"Now we can go," She grinned.
"Hermione, this is what spoiled brats wear," Harry pointed out. Hermione just raised an eyebrow.
"So?" And out they went!
They soon reached London, Ron and Neville amazed by the happenings of it all. Of course, said redhead saw the nearest cafe and pulled them in, desperate to fill his rumbling tummy.
"Coffee, no sugar, and some milk please," Hermione ordered, sounding posh. Harry knew what his friend was up to and grinned as she took his order next.
"I'll have an English tea with lemon, he'll have the same thing," Harry ordered for Neville who was still staring at the menu.
"Mushrooms…" Neville muttered to himself.
"I'll uh, have what she's having. But uh, with sugar."
The woman walked away, Hermione breaking into giggles as soon as she was far enough away.
"They have mushrooms at Hogwarts, Nev."
"Not whole plates of them! Eugh, that's gross." Neville hated mushrooms.
Harry ordered them a large English Breakfast and some dessert crepes, the group using miniature plates to eat like they did at Hogwarts. It was bittersweet, but they tried to ignore it.
Their next stop was a nearby bookstore. Hermione was quite excited, throwing around titles and authors as she peered through the countless shelves.
"You have Stardust*?" she asked no one in particular. "This just came out, how do you have it?!"
Neville and Harry were both looking for books as well, Neville finding an interesting one on plants and Harry finding a book of Chinese recipes.
"Chow Mein… that sounds really good!" Harry showed Neville, the boy skimming it.
"And we could grow the carrots it needs!" Neville gestured to his own book. It had a step-by-step guide for growing carrots.
Ron was happy just following his girlfriend around, carrying the books she wanted.
"Ron! Ron Ron Ron! They have The Red Tent*!"
"What's that one about?" Ron asked. He loved the way Hermione's brown eyes lit up when she talked about a book she wanted to read. He was happy listening to her talk.
"Well, it's set in biblical times about this woman named Dinah and basically, she's the daughter in a family full of sons, and she has four mothers, the wives of Jacob and-"
"Why does Jacob have so many wives?!"
Their next stop was a nursery, Neville cooing at every single plant he came across.
"Oooh! Look at you, what a cutie! I just want to take you home!"
"Neville, you have a whole tree in the cart."
"Harry, just a few more, I'll get them real fast!" Neville ended up picking out five new plants. When the muggle worker had gone into the main building to get something, Ron and Hermione shrunk the plants and put them in a box. Neville left a hefty sum of the counter for the lady.
"I'll name the holly tree Holly, and the orchid can be called Adele, and this orange blossom is Olivia, and-"
Their final stop for the afternoon was an ice cream parlour. They ended up buying every flavour the shop sold and having their own little fest outside, laughing at the bewildered looks the shopkeepers gave them.
"This strawberry is so good," Ron complimented, coming back with his second serving. "I love strawberry"
"Let me have a bite," Hermione turned, opening her mouth. Ron spooned her a bite, Neville and Harry (ever the mature ones) making gagging and kissing sounds.
"Come here snookums, let me feed you." Neville said, bringing a spoonful of ice cream towards his mouth. "Say 'aaaa'"
"Aaahhhhhh!" Harry said dramatically. The three boys burst into laughter, the ice cream falling off the spoon and to the floor.
"Honestly, you're such children." Hermione rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but laugh with them.
They made it back home with the moon high in the sky, Augusta waiting for them patiently.
"Have fun?" She asked. The four teenagers burst into laughter.
"Absolutely," Neville answered her, kissing her cheek. "Thank you, Gran."
"Thanks Gran!" Harry and Ron said too, planting twin kisses on her face. Hermione settled giving her a long hug. The woman smiled at them as they rushed off to bed.
She was happy. She pulled out the two letters in her pocket. She didn't know what these letters contained, but she couldn't ruin the nice night they had. They could answer them in the morning.
The morning ended up being two in the afternoon. The four had stayed up all night, going to bed only when the sun had risen. Augusta didn't say anything, instead serving them breakfast for lunch and passing them letters.
"It's from ma!" Ron said, opening the letter.
"It's from Severus," Harry said, amazed. He hadn't thought that Severus would be able to get him a letter at all, especially knowing what the older man was going through.
"Open it, Harry." Neville encouraged. Harry took a deep breath, ripping the letter open as he exhaled. He sighed happily, taken in the neat sprawl, so different from the note he had found.
Harrison,
I hope you are all. I know what search you are going on, and as I cannot stop you, I will ask you one thing.
Be safe, my son.
S.S.
"He really cares for you," Hermione said, listening to Harry read it. "I never thought…"
"Never thought the bastard could have a heart?" Ron finished, swallowing his mouthful of food. He raised an eyebrow at Neville's and Hermione's glare. "What?"
"It's fine," Harry said with a little laugh, rubbing his eyes. No one commented that they were misty. "What was yours about, Ron?"
"Oh, a note from Mum. She wants all of us back home for Fleur and Bill's wedding. Well, she said she wants all of us, but if you two can't come then she understands."
"Why wouldn't we be able to come?" Neville asked. Ron glanced at the Longbottom Matron, everyone's eyes following. Ah.
"I shall talk to Molly about it. If a proper safety plan can be put together, I will allow it." Augusta sat down her tea cup just in time for Harry and Neville to give the woman a hug.
"Thank you!" They said, whooping as they headed back up the stairs. Augusta's breath hitched, a feeling akin to Deja Vu resting on her heart. A long time ago, her son was like this with his friends.
"Thank you, Mrs Longbottom," Hermione told her, ever the polite one. She followed the talking boys, leaving just Augusta and the youngest male Weasley at the table. They stared at each other for a moment, before Ron gave her a big smile, taking a plate full of eggs and giving her a loud "Thanks ma'am!"
These kids would be the death of her! Yet she couldn't help but smile. Still, she needed to talk to Molly, and then her grandson.
"This is so stupid," Harry muttered, scratching his hand. Neville nodded in agreement, looking through the back bookshelves. Augusta wasn't one to take books out of her library, no matter how dark they were, so the boys had a decent collection to look through. Still, none of the books had ANY mention of Horcruxes. Harry winced as he rubbed his hand.
"You're going to make your hand bleed again, Harry." Neville reminded him, squatting down to see the lower shelves.
"You'll just have to doctor it again," Harry teased, laughing when his friend rolled his eyes. "I wish we could go visit Diagon, or somewhere else, like go to Germany again. I'm sure we'd find some darker books there."
"After Grindelwald? Probably not. They're probably stricter than Britain. Drumstrang would be the place to go look." Ron said, biting into his apple. He had no interest in even touching a darker book, but he was willing to offer emotional support. "You're right though, I wish there was somewhere we could go that would have a different collection of books."
Harry paused, struck with an idea.
"Neville, do you have any portkeys back here?"
"Back here? Where do you think you're gonna be going?" He raised an eyebrow, standing up. Even though Neville had grown a lot, thanks to Harry changing into a miniature Snape, Harry still had a good three inches on him. Ron towered above all of them, a solid height of 198cm (6'4"). He made sure to remind them all of his height whenever he got the chance.
"Remember the key?" Harry said, pulling the chain out from under his shirt. Agusta had put the key on a chain for him when she noticed he was carrying it around everywhere with him. "I can hop to Spinners end and see if there is anything there, and then come back!"
"That…that could work! Hold on, let me go talk to Gran!" Neville ran out of the library, Harry and Ron following close behind. Hermione was upstairs, packing her bags. They weren't leaving for the burrow for another few days, but Hermione said she needed to be prepared. She had magic, no one understood why she did it by hand.
"Gran!" Neville called out, bursting into her office. The woman, startled, stood up quickly, her wand pointed at the three teenagers. "Oh!"
"Neville!" The woman breathed a sigh. "What. Could you need so bad you burst into my office?"
"Do we have any portkeys back to the manor?" He asked her. At Augusta's strange look, Harry took the lead, explaining his plan.
"How do you know you won't be tracked, or even attacked?"
"Severus said it was tied only to me. I'll just get the books and come back." Augusta stared at him for a few moments before nodding.
"I'll allow it. I'll have one of the house elves build a separate area to house all of the books that aren't ours. In and out, sir."
"Yes ma'am!" Harry said, turning to exit the room.
"Wait." Harry paused, turning back around. "Take this bag,"
"What is it?" Harry asked, taking the velvet bag from the woman.
"It's enchanted to expand and hold up to two hundred items, or up to two tons. My sister Mary came up with it, although she's likely advanced the idea from a small bag."
"Thank you!" Harry said, holding it to his chest. "I'll use it wisely!"
Augusta nodded, gesturing for the boys to head out. "You'll find a reusable portkey near the front entrance, the wooden flower in the dirt with the Poppy's."
"Thanks Gran!" Neville thanked her, ushering his friends out. They had Business to do after all.
Gripping the key, his pockets holding the velvet bag and the wooden flower, Harry nodded at his friends.
"I'll be quick."
"And safe!" Hermione tacked on, having come downstairs just in time.
"And safe." Harry grinned at her. "Alright. Second Prince!"
Harry whirled a way, stomach clenching and turning. He landed on soft grass, head spinning and stomach lurching.
When he looked up, everything went away.
All around the house, wild plants grew in abundance. Ivy crawled up the walls and roof, and bright flowers bloomed in every corner of the yard. The ground was covered in rich, green grass and various wildflowers. It was clear that the house was long abandoned and had been taken over by nature, even if someone still technically lived there.
Despite its dilapidated condition, there was a certain beauty to the house. It looked like it had stood there for many years, holding onto the land with a stubborn grip, resilient in the face of time and the elements. And yet, it had a sense of warmth and cosiness, like an old friend that had seen many a storm but stood strong in the end.
Harry hoped to call it his home one day, one where he could live freely with his father, even if it was just for a few years.
'Don't worry, once this war is over, we'll all be free,' Harry thought to himself, opening the front door with the very key that brought him here. Harry took his time exploring, stopping by the kitchen, then the living room, the potions lab (which appeared to just be a bedroom or office converted into one) and Snape's own bedroom.
He was enthralled with everything. The vibe, the smell, even the furniture. It all screamed Severus Snape. It all screamed home. Harry looked at the book stacks and shelves in the living room and potions lab and decided to give them a quick look through first.
His nails dug into his itchy hand, ignoring the wet feeling against his fingertips.
Nothing! The books had nothing! He had been here for at least an hour now, and it was all for nothing! Leaving a quick note on the coffee table (in case Severus ever visited while Harry wasn't there) Harry grabbed the small bag of books and portkeyed out of the house.
He appeared in the same spot he had left, Neville waiting for him patiently.
"Harry! You took forever."
"Yeah, sorry about that. I got a little sidetracked. I was trying to find a book of anything dark magic related but I kind of struck out-"
"Your hand.."
"I mean it's Snape, how does he not have any- oh, yeah, I guess…sorry." Harry's ears tinted pink in embarrassment.
"Come on, let's go fix you up. Ron got the prophet a few hours ago, and nobody is happy about it."
"Why's that?" Harry asked, following Neville, not noticing how blood slowly dripped, nor the old woman watching.
"Our good friend Rita wrote another paper."
"Does it have the same feel as the first few?" Harry asked, sitting on the bed when they arrived in Neville's room. The boy pulled out a first aid kit, cleaning Harry's hand as they spoke.
"Nope, no message in the words like issue seventy either." Neville rubbed a salve into Harry's hand, wincing as Harry sucked in air through his teeth. "Sorry. But, there was another article, almost the complete opposite of Skeeters. You'll have to read it. Here, hold this end."
Neville slowly wrapped the bandage around Harry's hand, taking care to not agitate the reopened wounds as he did so. Harry needed to quell that bad habit of his, especially with a cursed wound like that. It only ever stopped bleeding with one of Severus' salves, and they barely had any left.
"There, all set. Try and keep the bandage on for longer this time."
"Right, thank you Nev."
A throat was cleared, and both boys looked to see who it was.
"May I borrow Neville for a moment?" Augusta asked. Harry nodded with a smile, and the older woman led Neville out of his room and into her office.
"What is it, Gran?"
"How long are you going to follow Potter around, Neville?"
"What?"
"I'm serious. This task, no, this goose chase he wants to take you on, how can you agree to it?"
"How can I not?" Neville shot back at her. "After all that he has done for me, I'm not going to just- no!"
"You could die, Neville."
"So be it!" He couldn't stop his voice from rising. "I'd follow him to the ends of the earth, even if it means I cease to exist!"
"So how are you going to do it?"
"Is this the place?"
"Yes, do it quietly. They're smart for muggles."
"Right. Incendio!"
The rose bushes in front of 4 Privet Drive lit up in flames, the red and orange glow illuminating their silver masks.
"This will draw Potter out, right?"
"Potter is weak, he'd do anything to help his family, even if they're already dead. The only way he doesn't come is if the person hiding him doesn't let him, and those filthy muggle-lovers will gladly avenge their fallen kin."
Severus Snape had always been a great liar.