(no subject)
Chapter 2:
They’d gone to Hogsmeade together the next day, and they’d had their first kiss in the common room the next weekend, in a situation very much like the one in which Ginny had asked Neville out. Neville had been on top of the world. He should have known it was too good to be true…
They’d decided not to tell Harry, Ron, Hermione or Luna about their relationship. It would make Harry and Ron angry, and they didn’t need the drama getting in the way of the Horcrux hunt. Ginny had wanted to tell Hermione and Luna, but they’d decided it was better not to bother them with it at all. Looking back, Neville wondered if things would have been different had they told them all from the beginning. Maybe, if they’d just told Harry the truth, the last six years would have gone differently.
He pushed that thought out of his mind and continued going through the papers. He couldn’t bring himself to throw them away, so he was filing them. Maybe someday, he and Ginny would look back on them and enjoy the memories. He wasn’t paying much attention to what he was pulling out of the box, so he flinched slightly when he saw what it was. It was a letter from the Horcrux hunters, written in Hermione’s hand. It was written two weeks after Hufflepuff’s cups had been destroyed, one month after Ravenclaw’s bracelet had been destroyed - once they were well into their plans for destroying Voldemort himself. The letter was written in the code they’d used back then, and it had changed his life. He stared at it - it was old and crumpled, but still readable:
Dear N and Y: May 2nd, 1998
Remember we said we were going to break into the DoM to look for clues about where T is now? We went there, and as we were wandering around, L mentioned something she’d heard about a prophecy made by Rowena Ravenclaw. Her mother had told her about it, and we went to find it. L knew she’d be able to touch it, because the prophecy was about a descendant of Ravenclaw, and L said that meant her. We all got worried in case it was another descendant, and P got especially noble and protective, but L picked it up anyway. Then I did that spell you two found for me, the one that allows you to hear a prophecy without smashing it, and this is what I heard:
“Seven is the magic number; one dark and six light; six to destroy the seventh; six strong, six only: my daughter, the chosen one, a muggleborn, a sister and a brother and an outcast; all pure, and they will rise with the darkness to make it fall …they will rise above when the world loses hope, but only together can they stay strong.”
It wasn’t hard for us to figure out that was L, P, me, Y, W and N respectively. We all tried touching it, and we all found we could. There were question marks on the label, but since we can all touch it we know it’s about us. So it sounds like the six of us will need to work together to defeat T. The Prophecies are self-fulfilling, and the only way for this one to be fulfilled is for you two to come with us. We’re going to come to your school (not mentioning the name just in case) to pick you up once we get your reply. Talk to the Headmistress and make sure she knows where you’re going and why. If she let L go, she has to let you two if you tell her about the Prophecy. We’re going to take you to where we’re staying and we’re going to practice, and then we’ll try to find T.
We can’t wait to see you, and P, W and L say hi!
- G
Neville read the letter over several times. “Six strong …only together can they stay strong” … they had been strong once. They’d been so strong he couldn’t see what had gone wrong. Looking back, six years later, it seemed like such a trivial thing … he shook his head, clearing that thought from his mind.
As he continued going through the papers, he found more letters detailing when and where they were to be picked up. On May 11th, 1998, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Luna had Apparated just outside the Hogwarts grounds (Luna held Harry’s arm for Side-Along-Apparition), where they’d met Neville and Ginny. The six of them had Apparated back to the cave (with Ginny holding onto Neville’s arm for Side-Along-Apparition), where they’d lived for the next two months.
Those two months had been some of the best of Neville’s life. They’d been like a more intense version of the DA. They’d practiced throwing off the Imperius Curse, which Harry had applied to them with their permission. He’d warned them constantly that his curses were weak, and it would be much harder with a real Death Eater. Another thing he’d mentioned a lot was how important it was to be able to be able to make fire. They’d all known the spell, but Harry had made them practice it until they could do it without even thinking about it. Neville was alarmed by the fear on his face every time he spoke of the Inferi, every time he warned them about the importance of defence against them.
They’d practiced the Shield Charm until they could do it in their sleep, but Harry had remained worried. “Luck won’t get us by this time,” he’d constantly said. “We can run away if we try hard enough, but it’ll take more than that to kill him.”
They’d all known Harry was scared. They’d all fought their share of battles over the course of the year and in the two years before that, but he’d seen more than any of them. Ron and Hermione had seen more than Neville, Ginny and Luna, but they hadn’t experienced as much as Harry. Members of the Order checked on them often. With the Horcruxes destroyed, they were all focusing on finding Voldemort himself. The Order told them to focus on preparing for the battle - the searching could be left to the adults.
Neville and Ginny had decided to keep their relationship a secret. They were worried they’d cause unnecessary stress by telling people about it, and it was easier not to do so. They’d decided they’d tell the others after the final battle.
Flashback
It was mid-May, and Neville and Ginny were alone in the cave. Ron and Hermione were off snogging somewhere (they’d been going out since the summer before their seventh year), and Harry and Luna had gone for a walk. It was around midnight. Neville and Ginny sat together, and were kissing when Hermione came into the cave. In shock and dismay, they jumped away from each other. Hermione stared at them for a moment, before saying, “What are you two doing?”
Neville avoided her eyes awkwardly, so Ginny spoke: “What are you doing here? Where’s Ron?”
“He stopped to talk with Harry and Luna; I just came back to get my coat. How long have you two been snogging?”
“We’ve been going out since February,” replied Ginny evenly, “but don’t tell the others. It’ll just make them mad.”
“Mad?” said Hermione, staring at Ginny. “Do you have any idea how much time Harry has spent talking about Ginny? He’s so excited about the moment when he’ll defeat Voldemort so he can get back with her and live happily for the rest of his life. Just this morning, he spent so much time asking us if we thought Ginny was hurt as much as he was by being apart from him that Ron left in annoyance! And he spent about half an hour talking about how amazing Ginny still looks. He’ll be furious if he finds out she’s been going out with Neville.”
“Well, Harry will just have to learn to live with it,” said Ginny tartly. “I’ve made my choice, and I’m not changing it. And you’d better not tell anyone. We’re going to tell him after the final battle.”
“And what if that’s five years from now?” asked Hermione.
“You know it won’t be. The Order’s stalling because they don’t think we’re ready for the fight, but you know they could find him if they wanted to. And they will soon.”
“And when they do,” said Hermione angrily, “Harry will be expecting his ex-girlfriend to jump into his arms and get back together with him like no time has passed.”
“There has been lots of time since last year, even if Harry doesn’t know it. And if it makes him so mad, he shouldn’t have broken up with me.”
“He was trying to protect you!”
“I don’t need protection; I’m not a china doll! Will you keep the secret?”
Hermione hesitated, and then said: “I won’t tell anyone, but you should. Sometimes I think Harry’s only motivation for winning this war is getting Ginny back, and he keeps asking about you because it’s awkward for you two to hang out. The longer you wait, the worse it will be when he finally finds out. And Ron won’t be happy either.”
Ginny narrowed her eyes at the implication of the control her brother had. “Ron doesn’t decide who I date any more than Harry does. We’ll tell them after the battle.”
“Don’t blame me when it all backfires on you,” said Hermione in irritation. “But I won’t tell.” With that, she got her coat and left the cave.
End Flashback
So Hermione had known all along. Maybe she hadn’t known how much damage it would do, but she’d known it would hurt their friendship. Looking back, Neville wondered if things would have been different had they taken her advice. Maybe, if Harry had found out in another way, and at another time, things would have been better.
Neville sighed. Hermione had been right, as usual. Not just about how Harry would react to his relationship with Ginny, but about the Order. As they’d all known, the members of the Order of the Pheonix had just been stalling. They hadn’t thought the six teenagers were ready to take him on. They’d held the battle off for two whole months, but they hadn’t stalled forever. The next paper in Neville’s box was a letter from the Order:
Dear heroes in the caves; June 26th, 1998
We’ve heard the HRs talking, and we’ve found out something about T’s plans. Tomorrow at 11:00 PM, he’s going back to the home of P’s parents. We’ll be there by ten forty-five, so we’d like you to Apparate over there around that time too. He’s going to collect his I and take them through the Muggle homes in the area - we want to be there to stop him. We know the six of you have to present if we want to do what you know we’ve been trying to do (I’m not going to say in case this letter is intercepted), and P’s going to do it. So if you all want to come by there at around ten thirty PM tomorrow night, we’ll try it.
- RL (the others out here say hi)
They’d all known “the home of P’s parents” was Gordric’s Hollow. So it was going to end, one way or another, where it had all begun. They’d known that, even before the battle had taken place. They’d all promised each other they wouldn’t run away. They’d either defeat Voldemort once and for all, or they’d die in the attempt. And then it would really be over, because Harry was the only one with the power to defeat Voldemort. And, according to Ravenclaw’s prophecy, he needed the other five of them.
The reference to Inferi had increased Harry’s fears even more, and he’d insisted they all go over the fire-making charm again. They’d practiced it so much they’d even heard Ron muttering the incantation in his sleep the night before the final battle. Neville could still remember that night. He and Ginny had sat together, staring out at the beauty that surrounded them. Their cave was in the mountains, and they’d taken it all in: the scenery, the beauty of the cloudless night sky, and each other. They’d both known they might not see any of those things again.
They’d spent the next day resting up, debating about whether or not Voldemort knew they’d be there, and practicing spells. Mostly, they’d just talked about what they’d thought it would be like. Harry had told them constantly the theory was useless; he grew more pessimistic with each passing hour. They’d written back to Professor Lupin the day before, saying they’d be there for the battle.
Sitting in his home, years later, Neville could still remember the final battle clearly. When he closed his eyes, he could still hear the screams all around him, could still see the Inferi as they approached. When he reached up to the back of his neck, he could still feel the scar from that battle - Ginny had told him it made him the new Harry. The better one. As Neville filed the letter from Professor Lupin, he closed his eyes and let the memories wash over him.
Flashback
Harry glanced at his watch. He, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna were sitting together, just outside their cave. For the last half hour or so, they’d been talking. Harry had done his best to recount the stories of his personal confrontations with Voldemort, but the only thing he’d managed to convey was that it was really impossible for them to understand if they hadn’t lived it. Of course, they’d all fought before. They’d fought several battles over the last few years - when the Death Eaters had invaded Hogwarts and when the Horcrux hunters had run into obstacles in their hunt, and they’d fought at the end of Neville’s fifth and sixth year. They knew the battle they were about to go into was different. They’re goal was not to defend their side, but to defeat the other one. There would be no running away. The six of them were scared, but determined. Neville knew this was his chance to avenge his parents.
“It’s ten forty-five,” said Harry. He turned to all of them with a very grave and serious look on his face. “I’ve seen people fall at the hands of Voldemort and his followers,” he told them quietly. “I’ve seen too much pain to wish it on anyone from our side, but I don’t think we can avoid it. The best advice I have for you all is don’t hold back. You can’t hesitate. We haven’t got much left to lose now, and if we do lose what we have left, we’re going to lose it whether we fight or hide. So we may as well go down fighting, if we have to go down. And take all the Death Eaters we can down with us.”
He hesitated, and added: “I’m the one that has to take Voldemort down, and I don’t want to go down with him. But one thing I’m not going to do is go down without him. Whatever the cost to our side, we’re going to bring them down once and for all tonight. It’s time to stop being careful. This may be the last time I get to talk to you guys outside the final battle. I just want to say we all need to protect each other, and we’ll all make it out.” He looked at Luna, and acknowledged her with a slight nod. “It’s like Luna said to me this morning. We’ll get back. No matter what, we have to get back.” At that point, his voice broke, with too many emotions to identify.
“I didn’t say that,” said Luna quietly. For once, she was completely serious and grounded. “I said we’ll all be together again someday. If we don’t go back, we’ll go forward. And someday we’ll catch up with each other. We always do, in the end.”
Harry nodded to her. “We’ll all be together again someday. We’ll catch up, no matter who gets a head start tonight.” He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and said: “We should Disapparate now.” Hermione held Ron’s had. She’d remained uncharacteristically during their discussion, and there was fear, but resolve on her face. Neville could see Ginny’s face. There was a fire in her eyes, and it was quite clear that she was ready to burn any Death Eater with it. She met Neville’s eyes, and he knew she wouldn’t give up.
With a slight nod to acknowledge her look, Neville closed his eyes and Disapparated. He focused as hard as he could on Gordric’s Hollow, picturing the forest around it, the new house that had been built in place of the Potters’, and every other detail he could think of. He knew what it looked like because, when he, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Luna had been at the Burrow for Bill and Fleur’s wedding, the gone to visit it together.
When he opened his eyes, he was standing outside Gordric’s Hollow with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Luna. Facing them was the entire Order of the Pheonix, including Professors Lupin and McGonagall, Arthur, Molly, Fred, George, Bill and Charlie Percy Weasley (Percy had reconciled with his family the summer before), Fleur Delacour, Rubeus Hagrid, Alastor Moody, Kinsley Shackbolt, Nymphadora Tonks, Dedalus Diggle, Sturgis Podmore, Mundungus Fletcher, Hestia Jones and many people Neville didn’t recognise. The group was huge - Neville hadn’t realised just how big the Order of the Pheonix was. They stood quietly, all with looks of mingled determination and fear. Luna’s father was there, as was Neville’s gran. They’d both gotten out of St. Mungo’s only weeks before, after being attacked by Death Eaters. The Healers had said it was a miracle they’d survived.
“You all ready?” asked Professor Lupin quietly. Harry nodded; it was enough of an answer for all of them. “We’ll protect you for as long as we can.” He didn’t have to say anything more. They all knew what would happen when, inevitably, the Order would have to step back. None of them were running away. Eventually, Harry would have to confront Voldemort. Either he’d die, and that would be it, or Voldemort would die, and things would be fine. This knowledge, so simple and so clear, hung in the air among them all. It silenced them - they were humbled in the face of such knowledge, with such extraordinary implications.
Neville had expected them to formulate some kind of plan. He’d assumed that was why they were coming early. But after Professor Lupin’s words, none of them spoke for a full fifteen minutes. The six students faced the Order, and they waited. Neville let his thoughts wander, wondering what it would be like. He could feel the tension in the air, the anticipation. They all knew how much danger they were in, but none of them said it. What was the point? Saying it wouldn’t change it. Hatred, anger and determination coursed through Neville in ways he’d never experienced before, and he didn’t want to change it. He wanted to face Bellatrix. He wanted to protect all of them … to protect Ginny. He wanted to play his part in the plan formulated so many years ago by Rowena Ravenclaw; the plan that would either save the world or destroy its last chance. He knew that if they failed that night, Voldemort’s side would win. It all depended on how he and his five friends fought. And he was determined not to mess it up.