Chapter 256
"Probably not for a while." Neville said, wondering whether Ginny or Lydiahadany idea how close their behaviour was to insulting him froman etiquetteperspective. Cedric seemed to clue in because he cleared his throat and drewNeville'sattention. "It's a shame you and Harry have to do the rounds." Neville shrugged. "Part of the job." He gestured over to where Hermione stoodwith Susan and Hannah, the others having been gathered back to their
families. "At least we had a mini-break."
"Sorry, Nev. We would have come over but Mum wanted us to stay together asa family." Ron added, a pink tone to his cheeks bringing out his freckles.
"Understandable," Neville said, "you didn't miss much, we were just talkingpredictions for the World Cup."
"Ireland has the best Chasers; Bulgaria's got the best Seeker." Ron
commented with enthusiastic authority. "I'd say Ireland will win but Krumwill
get the Snitch."
"You're probably right." Cedric agreed. "Krum has a reputation for endingthings if the game isn't going their way. I can't wait for Thursday. I really want
to learn some new Seeker moves for the Quidditch season."
"Are you thinking of trying out professionally, Ced?" Matthew asked, his facealive with genuine interest and curiosity. Cedric grimaced a little. "I'd like to but I know my Dad wants me settled intoajob at the Ministry."
"My oldest brother Bill says you have to do a job you want to do for yourself
rather than what someone else wants you to do," Ron said sagely, "I'mhopingto try out for Keeper this year, get on the team, try out for a professional teamand hopefully go into management." Neville suppressed a smile at Ron's serious tone.
"Wow," Cedric said with a grin, "you have it all worked out! I guess I shoulddosome thinking. I have to admit I love Quidditch but I'm not sure I'mgoodenough for a professional career."
"I'm going to try out for Chaser." Ginny jumped into the conversation. "MaybeI
won't get onto the team for a couple of years but I still want to try out."
"You could try out for Seeker." Cedric suggested. "You have the right buildfor
it." Ginny blushed. "That's Harry's spot. I want to play on the teamwith himnot
challenge him for his position." Lydia snorted. "Like you could. Harry's the best Seeker we have at Hogwarts." Cedric cleared his throat. "Well, that certainly put me in my place." Matthew shot his sister an exasperated look. "Apologies, Ced, she's a tadPotter obsessed." He avoided the slap aimed in his direction.
"It's OK." Cedric said cheerfully. "Harry's great competition." Neville felt the nudge his Gran gave him and said his goodbyes moving on. Hedefinitely should look elsewhere other than Ginny, he mused. She was socaught up with Harry that she couldn't see anyone else. It was a shame. He was in the middle of talking to Bill and the Doges about the plans he andHarry had for supplying Wolfsbane ingredients when it happened.
A scream sounded from the outer hallway where the powder roomdesignatedfor the ladies' use was located. Neville unholstered his wand immediately. He noticed that Harry had donethesame across the room, although Sirius and Simeon immediately flankedtheir
Heir. His Gran raised her wand and shot off a small bang that gained everyone'sattention even as she started walking. "Please remain in the roomwhile weinvestigate. It may simply be a spider has surprised one of our more fearful
ladies. Sirius, Simeon; if you could see to everyone?" Sirius nodded immediately. "Of course, Augusta."
"Amelia, if you would accompany me?" His Gran was already half-way tothedoor. Amelia was already in motion and fell quickly into step, as did the Headof theAurors, Rufus Scrimgeour, and Albus Dumbledore.
"I'm coming with you too, Gran." Neville said. He could see his Gran wanted to argue but she nodded swiftly. The corridor
was a crowd of men hovering outside the door obviously torn between
entering and not since it was a ladies' bathroom.
"Men!" His Gran said under her breath. "If everyone could take a step back, please!"
"I think it's my Hilary!" Douglas Vane said, whirling around in a panic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 257
"We shall see what the matter is." Amelia said stepping in quickly. "Rufus, withme!" She shot Dumbledore a look that told him to remain behind.
"Reminds me of the old days, eh, Director?" Rufus gave a rakish grin whichAmelia returned. They knocked on the bathroom door and Amelia entered swiftly, wand out andpoised.
"We need a Healer!" Amelia shouted.
"Someone get Ted Tonks!" Augusta ordered smartly. Terry Stebbins nodded at Neville and set off to the reception roomat a run. Neville craned his head and peeked in through the open door. Hilary Vanewas
flat out on the floor. Amelia was casting diagnostic spells over the womanbut
Rufus's attention was on the mirror. Neville glanced in and froze in shock at
the blood red writing on the mirror.
"Tick-tock, Harry Potter. Your time to die draws closer." Ted pushed past him and Amelia stood up to let him get to his patient.
"She's fainted." Amelia said briskly. "If you could revive her, Ted, and we'll
move her to another room."
"The writing's singing with house elf magic." Rufus stated firmly. "I suggest wegot a forensic team down here and see what else we can find." Amelia nodded. "Lord Black should see this." Dumbledore had somehow squirmed his way inside the bathroom. "Harry will
need to leave immediately, Augusta."
"Yes. Neville, can you go and request Sirius comes immediately; you escort
Harry home." His Gran's mouth tightened in a way Neville knew well; she wasfurious. Someone had come into the Manor, threatened one of her guestsanddisrupted an important gathering for the House of Black whomthey werehosting.
Hilary Vane stirred as Neville nodded and made his way back to the receptionroom. He made a beeline straight for Sirius who hovered protectively near toHarry and Hermione who had evidently joined them in the wake of the scream.
"Lord Black, my apologies, my Grandmother has requested your presence." Neville said authoritatively. "Professor Dumbledore has advised Harry leavesimmediately and my Grandmother concurs; I will accompany himto BlackManor." Sirius's grey eyes widened but he nodded sharply. "I would appreciate that, Neville. Hermione and Andy, can you both go with them?"
"Of course." Andromeda said smoothly. She curtsied, Hermione followingher
example while Harry and Neville both bowed their heads. Neville led the way to the floo; Hermione went first, then Harry, then Nevillewith Andromeda following on behind.
"Why don't you kids head for the kitchen and get Kreacher to make you somehot chocolate?" Andromeda said briskly. "I'll go find Penny and the baby." They all trooped obediently to the kitchen. Kreacher sniffed at thembut
provided the hot chocolate.
"OK, Neville, what's going on?" Harry asked as soon as they were settledwithmugs of Honeydukes' best cocoa liberally sprinkled with marshmallows.
"Another death threat." Neville said succinctly. He repeated the message andsighed. "They said it was house elf magic again. Mrs Vane just walked inonit, I think, panicked and fainted." Harry slumped in his chair. "Perfect."
"Sorry, Harry." Neville said softly. "But it looks like the same prat who sent youthe message on your birthday."
"The house elf magic would suggest that," Hermione agreed, a faint touchof
her old 'know-it-all' tone colouring her words, "but the fact that they got intothe party means we can narrow the field down to the Wizengamot and
Ministry officials who were there."
"Which doesn't eliminate a great deal of people, Hermione," Harry pointedout
calmly, "since most of the old pureblood alliance used to bow down to Tom."
"It eliminates some," Hermione insisted, "and if you also eliminate those whodon't have a house elf…it eliminates some more."
"Maybe on the Ministry side," Neville said, "but most of the Wizengamot
pureblood families have elves."
"Of course they do!" Hermione snapped. "They all have slaves! Why amI not
surprised?!"
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Neville exchanged a quick alarmed look with Harry before mutually and
silently agreeing to change the subject; Hermione and the subject of houseelves was just a danger area complete with flashing lights and alarms. Harry gave a sudden groan. "Bugger! I'm probably not going to be able togotothe World Cup now!"
"Language, Harry!" Hermione remonstrated with him furiously. "And therearemore important things than Quidditch, no matter what Ronald Weasley might
say about it! Your life is more important! Didn't you learn anything fromtheFirebolt incident! Oh, you are so…infuriating! Don't you care someone wantstokill you!" she got up, her chair scraping over the floor with a loud screechasshe rushed out leaving two wide-eyed boys behind her. Neville and Harry both looked at the swinging kitchen door and back at eachother. They shrugged in unison. Girls. The man who could ever explain how their thought processes worked wouldmake a bloody fortune, Neville considered wryly.
Harry shifted in his seat and took a gulp of his chocolate.
"I don't think Sirius will stop you from going," Neville began a little hesitantly, "he didn't cancel the Wizengamot session after the death threat on your
birthday."
"But that was business and this is…fun." Harry had perked up though andhesmiled gratefully at Neville. "Thanks for coming back with me. Your Granisgoing to go nuts."
"She's furious." Neville said. "She was so wanting this to be a success for theHouse of Black." Harry nodded understandingly. "It was a success, Neville. The care and
attention she gave to the guests and to the details – Sirius knows she
honoured the House of Black tonight and that can't have been easy after
everything in the past." Neville nodded, uncomfortable with the reference to his parents and what hadhappened with the LeStranges despite knowing Harry already knewandinmany ways understood. He had a sudden epiphany and swore.
"Language, Neville!" Harry said in an almost perfect mimic of Hermione.
They both burst out laughing.
"What's up enough that it got you to swear?" asked Harry, gesturing withhismug.
"I was just thinking that Gran's going to be fairly disturbed at somethingsodreadful hitting so close to home again. If it was a Death Eater or someoneinleague with Voldemort than that means they managed to land a blow–evenasmall one – within Longbottom Manor." Neville sighed. "Gran's going tohatethat since it's the first time since…well, you know. If you think Sirius is bad…hehas nothing on my Gran. Cancelling the World Cup will be the least of it." Harry winced visibly. "I'm really sorry, Nev."
"It's not your fault that some Dark Nutter is after you, Harry," Neville said, "andeven if it wasn't a matter of House honour, we'd stand with you anyway."
"Same here." Harry said quietly. "I just wish he wasn't after me." His
expression fell into grave contemplation. Neville bit his lip and gathered his courage. "Harry, did you have a reasonfor
asking if everyone believed in prophecies?" He could almost see Harry debating it internally, weighing up the pros andcons of confiding in Neville. It no longer surprised Neville to see Harry takethetime to think. Having gotten to know him quite well over the Summer, Neville
knew Harry wasn't quite the reckless, charge-in-with-no-thought Gryffindor
archetype that most people took him to be. Yes, he had moments when hepersonified that archetype – usually when his temper was up – but generally, Harry was much more considering of his behaviour and actions than peoplegave him credit for. Harry shifted in his seat again before he drew his wand and sketched a
privacy bubble. Neville had seen Professor Flitwick teach Harry the charmtheweek before but he hadn't expected Harry to use it any time in the near future. That Harry had underscored that whatever he was about to reveal was very
important.
"You can't tell anyone else about this, Neville," Harry began, "well, maybe your
Gran because I think she knows some of it but no-one else, OK?" Neville nodded. "Of course." Harry fidgeted with his mug for a moment before his green eyes flashedupand met Neville's, shining with determination. "Have you ever wonderedwhyI
have the Dark Nutter after me?" And suddenly it all fell into place. Neville's eyes widened. "Oh Merlin!" He breathed. "A prophecy?" Harry nodded unhappily. "Actually, I've been debating whether to tell yousince
I heard it because…well, the other person it might have referred to was, uh, you."
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"Me?!" Neville squeaked.
"The beginning goes something like 'the one to vanquish the Dark Lord
approaches, born as the seventh month dies, born to those who have thricedefied him…'" Harry gestured towards Neville, "both you and I met the criteria. Some Death Eater overheard it and told Tom so he…"
"He targeted us, our families." Neville stated quietly. He gazed at Harry inwonderment. "It could have been me?"
"The next part of it talks about him marking whoever it was as an equal." Harry's finger lifted and traced his scar. "He chose to come after me so…"
"Merlin, Harry." Neville said, trying to gather his composure. He finally blurtedout the only thing running through his head. "Can I just say I'mreally gladit'snot me? Oh, bugger! That sounds terrible but it's not…I don't want it to beyoueither and…" Harry started laughing and after a moment of stunned shock Neville followedhim.
"'S OK." Harry waved at him. "Just…I understand. There's a part of me that kind
of wishes it was you even though I wouldn't actually wish having this target onyour forehead on anyone." Neville gave a nod of understanding. "Do you believe the prophecy?"
"Sirius said, and I agree with him, that it doesn't matter if I do or not," Harry
said, "since although we think Tom didn't believe it at first since he waitedsolong to actually come after me, he obviously does believe it nowso…I'matarget whether I like it or not."
"Merlin." Neville breathed out sharply.
"I know Sirius is trying to do everything he can so I don't have to fight himbut…" Harry shrugged and wrapped his hands around the mug, "it just feelslike it's inevitable? Like at some point it is going to just come down to himandme."
"Well," began Neville not really knowing what to say, "we'll be beside youuntil
it does."
It was apparently the right thing to say. Harry brightened. "At least I'm being trained now."
"If there is a prophecy it kind of begs the question why you weren't beingtrained before." Neville said thoughtfully.
"Dumbledore mumbled something about giving me a childhood when I askedhim in one of the lessons he gave me." Harry explained. "Personally, I thinkthat's a load of rubbish but…well, he is helping now so…" he paused andhiseyes darted up from his mug to meet Neville's again. "I don't trust himanymore since I found out he was the one to leave me with the Dursleys. I
mean, I've forgiven him but…" he sighed, "I can't forget it."
"I don't blame you." Neville said firmly. He didn't know too much about what had happened with Harry's previous
guardians but from what little he had observed of Harry at Hogwarts (theawful muggle clothes, how scrawny Harry was and how he disliked the
attention and the Boy Who Lived thing), what he had verified that Summer (thelack of Harry's knowledge about the wizarding world and his heritage), andfrom what little he could guess (neglect and emotional abuse), he couldunderstand some of Harry's resentment of the Headmaster. In some ways, it
probably mirrored his own resentment of his Gran. He loved his Gran and knew that she loved him but she'd also spent every year
of his life prior to that Summer comparing him to his father; looking at himwith a faint air of disappointment every time her eyes fell upon him; allowinghis Uncle to put him through dangerous tests to see if he had any magic;
never once telling him she was proud of him for what he was good at…theSummer had changed things for the better and she'd finally started to seehimas Neville, to treat him with respect and open affection, but Neville couldunderstand Harry's resentment of things past even if things had changed.
There was a noise outside the kitchen door and Harry took down the bubblequickly. The door opened to reveal Remus.
"Sirius sent me a patronus message." Remus explained succinctly. "Howareyou boys doing?" Neville mumbled a 'fine' at the same time as Harry.
"What happened exactly?" asked Remus, sitting down beside Harry. Neville explained as Kreacher popped in and organised a mug of hot
chocolate for Remus. Remus looked worried when he'd finished and the older
wizard reached over and gave Harry a one-armed hug.
"Whoever it is just narrowed the list of suspects." Remus said comfortingly. "We'll be able to cross a few people off just because they weren't attending."
"Hermione said something similar." Harry admitted.
"Where is Hermione anyway?" asked Remus, glancing around the kitchenasthough Hermione had gotten lost in a cupboard.
"She, uh, got cross with me when I complained that I might not be able togoto the World Cup anymore and stormed out." Harry said sheepishly.
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Remus's eyes widened. "Ah."
"Sorry for ruining your evening." Harry rushed out.
"I was just at the DOM doing some research on the papers Sirius found inhisgrandfather's study." Remus said. "So the evening is hardly ruined. Howwasthe party before the excitement?"
"It was going well, I think." Harry said. "People were enjoying themselves andeveryone was polite to Simeon and Anna."
"Good…" Another set of voices outside the kitchen door had Remus rising, his wandinhis hand. Andromeda walked in, Hermione trailing behind her. Hermione looked as
though she'd been crying and Harry's eyes widened in surprise before fillingwith guilt.
"Remus, good; you're here. I'm going to take Hermione home." Andromedasaid crisply.
Harry got up and approached his best friend warily. "Hermione, before yougo, I just want to say I'm sorry about before…" Hermione waved him off. "It's OK. It's just…I worry about you, Harry." She
sprang forward before Harry could do anything and hugged him. "I don't knowwhat I'd do if anything happened to you!" She mumbled low enough that
Neville had to strain to hear her. She let him go as abruptly as she'd huggedhim and moved back to Andromeda's side. "Andy's going to take me home. It
could be a while before Sirius and Simeon get back and I don't think we'regoing to be allowed to go back to the party anyway." Andromeda placed an arm around Hermione. "Nope, you're definitely not
going back."
It went unsaid that whoever had gotten their house elf to leave the threat wasthere; Longbottom Manor wasn't safe.
"I'll see you soon, Harry; Neville." Hermione said her goodbyes and left withAndromeda. Harry sat down heavily in his chair, an unhappy frown screwing up his lips.
"Don't worry, Harry. It looks like she's already forgiven you." Remus said.
"I made her cry." Harry said, pushing a hand through her hair.
"I think the stress of the situation made her cry." Remus contradicted himgently. "I'm going to the library – I brought some books back with me. Why
don't you boys get something to eat and then come and join me?" He departedthe room before they could reply. Harry called Kreacher and a few minutes later they were both eating friedeggsandwiches, Neville's drenched in brown sauce while Harry had his plain.
"Remus is right." Neville said in between mouthfuls of runny yolk and spicy
sauce. "Hermione overreacted to what you said. It wasn't you just…everything, I guess." He swallowed hastily. "How much does she know?" Harry took a moment to erect the privacy bubble again.
"I haven't told her about the prophecy." Harry said. "You're the only personoutside of Sirius, Remus and Bertie Croaker who knows I know all about it. Dumbledore knows I know there is a prophecy but not that I knowwhat it
says." Neville was stunned. He was in awe that he was the first to be trusted. Harry changed position and motioned with a piece of the bacon. "I figuredif
anyone deserved to know about the prophecy, it was you. After all…"
"It could have been me." Neville concluded, picking up another sandwich. "Areyou going to tell Hermione and Ron?" Harry shook his head. "You saw how she was and this is me getting threatsanyway."
"She'll go nuts when she finds out and you didn't tell her though." Neville
pointed out. "What about Ron?"
"I don't know," Harry said, "I want to tell them, and I know they'd back me upnoquestion, but the more people who know about the prophecy, the more likelyit
is that the entire thing gets back to Tom so…probably no?"
"Thank you for telling me." Neville said, understanding just what a risk Harrywas taking. He finished his second sandwich and coaxed Harry to eat his. "Shall we go over the business plan again?" Harry nodded his agreement and once their sandwiches were finished they
headed to the library. Remus was using Penny's desk and there were scrollsand books spread around him like an obstacle course. They settled intotwocomfy armchairs in a corner and started discussing the potions supply. Thetrick was going to be getting good quality harvests of all the ingredients at theright time.