HPWW191-200

Chapter 191

A plate of quarter-cut sandwiches appeared next to

his left hand. And a second appeared next to her right.

"Looks like you're munching while reading, too," he

smirked.

She just moved her plate closer to be between them

and said, "Maybe."

As she expected, Harry wolfed his own down and

eyed hers, which weren't touched yet.

Smirking to herself, she said, "Go ahead, Harry. I

didn't want them in the first place, remember?"

That plate emptied quick-smart, too.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

It was while he and Hermione were again taking a walk

around the back yard when Harry had his epiphany, as

he later called it.

"Oh, for the love of Merlin!" he suddenly exclaimed,

startling Hermione. "I am such a twit!"

"Harry!" she suddenly exclaimed in shock at his own

sudden exclamation.

When Harry spun to look at her, wondering what was

wrong, she had a hand lightly to her chest between

her breasts.

"What?" he asked

"What do you mean, what?" she shot back. "You

scared the life out me!"

"Oh!" he sheepishly replied. "Sorry."

"What was all that about?" she asked.

"Oh, yeah," he replied. "I've just realised I've been

'infected by the wizarding daft moron virus'."

"P-Pardon?"

"The daft moron virus!" he repeated. "I've turned into

a daft moron!"

With a snort leading the way, she asked, "Ohh-kay.

What's led you to believe that?"

He replied, "I've been thinking we need to ask the

aurors to allow us to go to Diagon Alley to buy some

more stationery supplies."

"Yes?" she asked. "And?"

"We don't need to go, if that's all we're going for!" he

explained, throwing his hands up. "House elves can

be sent to buy that sort of thing for you!"

"Oh," she said, understanding. Then she grinned.

Then she began to laugh.

"It's not funny!" he declared. "I'm infected!"

That just made her laugh even harder. And made him

sulk a bit.

"Harry," she patiently said. "I didn't think of that,

either."

That made him feel better but not happier. "I just didn't

see it," he grumbled.

"When we get back inside you can send Dobby to

Diagon Alley as soon as you want. However..."

"However?" he asked, starting to lead the two of them

back to the back of the house.

"How about we make a list of things for Dobby to buy

us before you send him," she explained. "I'm sure

there's more than just 'stationery' for him to buy."

"Yeah, and that's the other problem," he grumbled as

they reached the back door.

As he held it open for her, she asked, "What's that?"

Stepping in after her and closing the door, he replied,

"Think of how those in the wizarding world buy their

groceries. Do you remember seeing a grocery store in

the Alley?"

"Errr... no," she replied, stopping to turn to him with a

confused expression.

"Exactly!" he exclaimed. "There isn't one there!"

Going back upstairs to the main floor and into the

kitchen, he called, "Dobby."

The little elf popped in and asked, "Yes, Master

Harry?"

"Dobby, when you were with the Malfoy's, did you do

the food shopping?"

"Yes, Master Harry," he replied. "That was beings one

of Dobby's works he shared with Peggy."

"How do you do it?" he asked. "I mean, where do you

go to buy food?"

"There beings a muggle shop being run by

squibbies," replied Dobby. "All elveses go there."

"So, if I was to give you a shopping list," he asked.

"You'd be able to fill it by buying what I've listed?"

"Yes, Master Harry," replied the elf. "Does this mean

Master Harry is going to be lettings Dobby doing

shopping work now?"

"Most of it, yeah," he sighed.

Dobby grinned excitedly back.

"I'll have a list for you within the next few days," he

almost morosely sighed.

"Yes, Master Harry!" exclaimed Dobby, before he

popped away again.

Hermione was now sitting back at the dinette, turned

away from him. But, she wasn't fooling him for one

moment. The shaking of her shoulders meant only

one thing. She was laughing at him and trying not to

show it.

"I am a daft moron!" he firmly declared to the world -

well, at least the kitchen. "However, I shall not

embrace it! I shall overcome it, by doing better. I shall

strive to rid myself of this infection with all my heart

and mental... acuity. And I shall succeed!"

Her tinkling gay laughter did nothing to make him feel

any better.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

During an afternoon tea break, Sirius called Harry.

Because Harry was stuffing his face yet again,

Hermione had to answer the call.

Sirius took one look at his godson, hurrying to clear

his mouth of food, and laughed.

As he swallowed, Harry scowled. "Stop it. You know I

can't help it."

"I know, Pup," replied Sirius. "But, that doesn't mean I

can't laugh about it, does it."

Hermione leaned in and said, "Harry's grown about

three to four inches taller in the past few days!"

Unsurprised, Sirius gave a nod and said, "By my

estimation he's got some more growing to do yet,

kiddo."

Hermione grinned and nodded. "Any reason you

decided to mirror call us?" she asked.

"Yeah," he returned. "Harry?"

As Hermione angled the mirror better for him, Harry

was quickly trying to swallow another mouthful.

"Don't swallow on my account!" declared his

godfather, before laughing a little again.

Harry scowled back.

"Listen," said Sirius. "The goblins have agreed to the

use of their time dilation chamber. However, they need

to go no later than the early hours of tomorrow

morning for it to have a reasonable chance of being

done on time for Tuesday morning. Recovery time is

needed."

"Shhhhhyte!" he muttered. He thought for a few

moments, reached a decision and said, "Alright. Do

it."

Sirius then went on to define what terms the Goblins

wanted for use of the chamber, plus the secrecy oaths

they insisted be a part of that. The price was a 'biggy',

but not financial. It related to a boon Gringotts owed

the House of Potter.

"Understood," said Harry. "And, I agree to the terms."

When Sirius nodded back, he continued, "I need to get

one letter off to Neville and want the goblins to take a

letter into the chamber with them for me.

"So, I've now got some writing to do. I'll send both

letters via Hedwig, as soon as I can today. I'll have her

go to you first, before flying on to Longbottom Hall."

"Sounds like a plan," agreed Sirius. "I think this is

actually going to work."

"Once you found that curse and counter-curse I'd

figured, right then, this was going work. It was just

how we were going to go about accomplishing it that

was the major variable.

"All that's mainly left to do for the rest of us is watch it

happen."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Straight after the mirror call and finishing his 'snack',

Harry pushed all the Potter documents to the other

end of the table and out of the way. Then brought

across his draft of text for the letter to Neville. That

had to be completed, as did the second one.

The two of them added what they could to 'help'

Neville through what was about to happen. But,

couldn't flat out tell him because they all knew his

grandmother would immediately step in and block it.

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---------------

Chapter 192

He was about to ask Hermione to rewrite it so all the

crossed out and moved sections were rectified when

he realised he had to write it because it had to be in

his hand.

He had her make a start on writing up paragraphs for

the second letter on one sheet, while he wrote

paragraphs of another section on another sheet.

Having a bit of a brainwave, he called, "Dobby."

"Yes, Master Harry?"

"Do I own, or do you know where I can buy, a Dictaquill?" he asked.

"Dobby be goings to check Potter vaults," declared

the elf before it popped away.

Even though both teens were 'antsy' about the

success of Harry's plan that began its practical

component that night. Once it was decided to go

ahead, Harry began to calm down while Hermione's

worry ratcheted up.

"Hermione," he tried, when he saw her worrying at her

bottom lip with her teeth.

"Hunh?" she asked.

"The decision is made," he said. "I know you're

worried, but the time for worry is now past. I'm as

confident as I can be that this will succeed."

With a pop, Dobby returned. "There be no Dicta-quills

in Potter vaults, Master Harry," replied the elf. "But

Dobby be knowings where he can borrow one."

His expression turning into a smirk, Harry asked,

"And do the current owners know you'll be borrowing

one?"

"Theys will not be knowings Dobby be borrowings

one if Dobby can gets it back to thems today," replied

the elf, confidently.

Giving a snort of amusement, Harry said, "Fair

enough. However, I don't want to borrow it, just yet...

Actually, yes; go get it."

"Harry?" asked Hermione.

"I'll dictate the main body of the letter, the history, as a

statement, Hermione," he replied. "That way I can get

it done in time. Otherwise, I don't think I can tell them

everything they need to know before the time chamber

activates."

"What do you consider everything they need to

know?" she asked.

"Everything I know about what's going on," he firmly

replied. "I will not keep anything from them."

When Dobby popped back a short while later, because

of recent experience in watching one set up and used,

Harry quickly had it set up and working.

With a nod of satisfaction, he erected a muffling

charm about himself and the quill, closed his eyes to

get his thoughts in order and began to firmly speak. It

took almost two hours and he ended up with over

sixteen feet of Dicta-quill filled parchment.

Somewhere along the line, Dobby had kept him

supplied with tea. But his throat was still a little

hoarse by the end of it.

Stopping the quill he turned to Hermione and asked,

"How'd your part go?"

Sliding over what she'd done, Harry realised she'd

decided to write the letter as a separate document to

the statement Harry made. The statement would then

be an 'attachment' to the letter.

With a nod and a smile back he said, "Good idea."

Folding both into envelopes and writing just the

addressee's name on both, Hermione called, "Dobby."

"Yes, Miss-tress Herm'nee?"

Holding both letters out to him, she asked, "Can you

please deliver both these to Lord Black at the Tonkses

Home?"

"Yes, Mistress Herm'nee," he replied with a short bob,

taking the letter and popping away.

Turning to Harry she said, "As you said, faster than an

owl. And there's a certain level of urgency for this."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Because he was busy dictating his message, Harry

didn't have time to cook dinner that night as 'cheffy'

as he wanted. So, in the end, he just went for fast and

tasty - Fish 'n' Chips - always a good British staple

because it was quick and easy to prepare.

However, he did dress it up quite a bit with Dobby's

help. This 'Fish 'n' Chips' for chips included normal

potato, sweet potato and carrot sticks. And the fish

included sole, squid rings, onion rings, little chunks of

octopus and crab sticks; all battered. Adding to that

went a light tossed salad, a vinaigrette for the salad

and home-made tartare sauce for the fish.

Dessert was a simple bread and butter pudding.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

As dinner wound down Monica asked the two what

they 'got up to' during the day.

"Well," said Hermione, with a slight smirk on her lips.

"We spent quite a bit of it going through the Potter

family documents; which we're now more than

halfway through."

With her smirk widening, she added, "And Harry

determined just after lunch that he has been, as he

puts it..."

Harry groaned and hung his head.

"... 'Infected with the wizarding daft moron virus'!"

And laughed.

Watching her daughter laugh as Harry hung his head

in apparent shame, Monica smirked and asked, "And

what led him to believe that?"

"Because I completely forgot about something in the

wizarding world that is as obvious as the sun rises in

the east," replied Harry, as Hermione continued to

chuckle.

With a sigh he explained, "The wizarding world needs

groceries, right?"

With a confused frown, Monica nodded back.

"Therefore, there has to be a shop to buy them from,

right?"

Nod.

"However, there is not a grocery shop, or any similar

shop, in Diagon Alley."

Nod.

"So, how do wizards and witches buy groceries?"

"Those with house elves send the house elves to do

the shopping," replied one of the aurors. "Those

without use a mail order system. For urgent needs,

there's a small store in Godric's Hollow that accepts

both wizarding and muggle currency."

"Uh-huh," said Harry. "I didn't know about the second

part, but I did realise about the first only today. That

was my 'daft moron' realisation moment.

"Instead of having to go and do the grocery shopping

myself, having to convert wizarding currency to

muggle currency ahead of time just to shop, I... finally

figured out I could have had Dobby doing the

shopping for me using wizarding currency."

Wendell gave a snort of amusement but otherwise

kept quiet.

"According to Dobby, there is a large grocery store

run by squibs where the elves can do the shopping on

behalf of their masters and mistresses. It just never

occurred to me that was the likely answer; when it

should have, because I know damned well there is no

way someone like Narcissa Malfoy, for instance,

would be caught dead in a grocery store."

That had the table laughing or chuckling away.

Chuckling, Wendell said, "Well, it's good to know the

Great Harry Potter, Sir, is as mortal as the rest of us."

Harry just groaned as the table laughed.

"That's a good thing to now know anyway, Harry," said

Hermione.

"Hunh?" he asked.

"What do you think is going to be the reaction when

someone like Lucius Malfoy finds out the food they

eat is bought from squibs?" she asked. "And that it's

the same food eaten by 'dirty' muggles?"

That surprised the table. Harry gawped at her.

"Hermione! That's evil!"

"That's something I'll fire back at Malfoy the younger if

he ever gets snotty with me again," she smirked.

"Ouch!" he exclaimed with glee. "I wonder if Hogwarts

buys their food from the same store, or even one very

similar.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 193

During the early hours of Saturday morning, 12th of

December, a team of six beings entered the Janus

Thickey Ward, Ward 49, inside Saint Mungo's Hospital

for Magical Maladies. They were all so thoroughly

disillusioned they didn't even leave behind a ripple of

air, the most common method by which the

disillusioned were spotted, as they traversed the

corridors of the hospital through to entering the ward.

Once inside the ward the patients, except two, were

subjected to a Somnulus sleeping charm that put

them into a deeper sleep.

While two were accomplishing that task, two more

were searching for and temporarily disabling

monitoring charms without alerting whom those

charms were connected to. Once done, they set about

erecting a privacy field over the entire ward. Again,

this was temporary.

With those done, both of the second two dropped

their disillusionments, which had the rest drop theirs.

It was now clear the group of six was made up of four

goblins and two wizards.

Both wizards moved to the beds containing the

parents of Neville Longbottom, Frank and Alice

Longbottom. Both immediately scanned both adult

Longbottoms, getting readings appearing as wisps of

magic in the air over the reposed patients.

Once complete both glanced at each other with one

nodding to the other. The second withdrew a sheet of

parchment from his matt black robes, read over it for a

moment and drew his wand. He was the one standing

between the beds of the two over the form of Frank

Longbottom, believed to be the most harmed of the

two.

Another last check of the parchment and he began to

cast. It didn't take long.

As the wand movements finished and the incantation

was correctly muttered, a soft sickly purple glow

appeared to cover the rightful Lord of Longbottom

from head to toe. When it sank into his skin both

wizards waited and watched.

After a long few seconds, Frank opened his eyes and

croaked out the first sound to exit his lips in almost

fourteen years. "Whhaa...?"

With a firm nod, the wizard who'd just cast the charm,

counter curse, on Frank then turned and cast the

same one on the wife, Alice.

As the same sickly purple colour sunk into her form,

her response was almost immediate. "N-nn-nnn-eehvvv-lll"

With the two almost matching satisfied smirks the

second of the two, the one who did not cast the

charms, stepped forward and placed a small copper

disk, one each, onto the chests of both Longbottoms,

as the other turned to the goblins standing nearby and

said only one word, "Success."

The senior most goblin immediately said, "We

proceed as planned."

That had all four goblins immediately come forward.

The two who had used magic to bypass the

monitoring wards immediately set up a powerful

Notice-Me-Not field around both beds keyed to all

those who were not of their group of six. The other

two split to one each and placed a gnarled hand onto

an arm of a Longbottom.

Then the final two did the same on the other side of

each patient.

And, finally, the two wizards stood at the foot of each

bed and grabbed hold of an ankle.

"Activate!" one of the goblins firmly stated.

And just like that, all eight suddenly disappeared from

the ward, together with both beds.

Because the monitoring charms had been temporarily

bypassed, the activation of a portkey within one of the

wards of the hospital was not noticed. No alarm

sounded or alert went out.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Waiting in the restricted portkey receiving area of

Gringotts deep inside the bank, Sirius was pacing

back and forth in worry. The four goblins standing

with him were watching him in amusement. Two of

them were holding a portable stretcher each. To a

goblin, a worried wizard was hilarious to watch.

Knowing not to enter the large circle in the middle of

the room, Sirius was on about his ninth circle of it

when there was soft gong sound. A moment later,

there appeared a bright flash and the feeling of

displaced air.

As Sirius quickly stepped back and out of the way, he

was elated to see that the counter-curse had

obviously worked. If it had not, the four goblins and

two wizards would have returned without the two

Longbottoms.

The two Longbottoms were immediately levitated off

the beds and the two beds were portkeyed away, back

to the hospital. The two with the stretchers then

paired up with one of the others without and

manoeuvred them into place below each patient.

He had been told the two portkeys to return the beds

were made from a single short white thread of cotton

each. They wouldn't be noticeable when it was

discovered the Longbottoms were no longer in the

beds in their wards.

The temporary bypasses back at the ward all faded

away less that five minutes later as if they were never

there.

With the beds out of the way, and the patients now

lowered onto the stretchers, Sirius stepped forward

again to check on each of them. Once he was sure for

himself both were okay, he handed the letter Harry

had given him to give to the Longbottoms to one of

the healers and said, "This is a letter for them. It is to

be given to them when at least one of them is

conscious enough to read and understand it."

The healer nodded and said, "It will be done. Now, if

you'll excuse me, I need to get these two into the time

dilation chamber."

With that, both wizard Healers, six of the eight goblins

and both still barely conscious Longbottoms were

hustled out of the room.

One of the two goblins remaining said to Sirius. "Time

for you to leave." And handed him another small

portkey.

Sirius took it and disappeared from the room a

moment later.

The other goblin remaining looked to his 'partner' and

said, "Stupid wizard."

"That's an oxymoron," said the first.

They both laughed as they made their own way out of

the room.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Harry had taken his mirror to bed with him and had it

next to his pillow. He didn't think he'd be able to sleep

until he heard back from Sirius, but he fell asleep

anyway.

When the mirror stated to insistently vibrate, though,

he was instantly woken.

Grabbing the mirror in his hand and quickly sitting up,

he turned on his bedside lamp and whispered,

"Padfoot."

A moment later Sirius appeared in the mirror and

quietly said, "Both the counter curse and snatch and

grab were a success. Both are barely conscious and

nowhere near lucid yet. But, both are now with the

Gringotts healers and under time dilation."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, before he firmly

whispered, "Yes!"

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Chapter 194

After speaking with Sirius to get a few more details

out of him, including that Sirius had given his letter

for Frank and Alice to the healers going in, when

Sirius had a little bit more important news to give him.

"I've also been informed that written messages can

also be passed in to them through some contraption

they've got," he said. "I think it might be based on

what's known as a Vanishing Cabinet, but it only goes

one way.

"That means messages can be passed in to them but

they can't pass messages back. At least it's

something."

"Good to know," said Harry. "I have a feeling I'll now

be sending through a couple of messages each day to

keep them up to date on what's happening out here in

real time."

"My thoughts, too," said Sirius.

Once the call ended, Harry softly called Dobby and

had him deliver a pre-written message to Hermione.

~ # ~

Hermione,

Both parts successful. Both now in Gringotts.

Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war.

Harry

~ # ~

He thought she'd appreciate the Shakespearean

reference.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Augusta Longbottom was sound asleep in her bed

soon after dawn broke when one of the Hall's house

elves woke her.

"Mmm? Yes?" she asked.

"Mistress 'Gusta," said the elf. "There beings

someones from Saint Mungy's wizard hospital in floo.

They says it be urgent."

Frowning and starting to rise, she asked, "Did they

say what it's about?"

"Only that it bees urgent," replied the elf.

Frowning, she continued to rise and said, "Thank you,

Fluxy. Please let them know I'll be down in a moment."

"Yes, Mistress," the elf replied before popping away.

Getting up and pulling a long housecoat over her

bedclothes, Longbottom slipped her feet into her

house slippers and made her way downstairs.

When she arrived in the welcoming hall it was to see

the floo still active and a face within it.

"What is this about that's so urgent for you to contact

me when the sun has barely risen into the sky?" she

snapped.

"Madam Longbottom," replied the female face. "On a

routine bed-check of the wards at first light, this

morning, it was discovered that your son and

daughter-in-bond were not in their beds. A quick

check of the ward, followed by a more extensive

check of the hospital, has determined that they are no

longer within Saint Mungo's.

"They have, without even tripping any of the wards or

alarms, disappeared. It is Saint Mungo's policy to―"

"Enough!" she snapped. "I've heard enough. I'll be

there within the half hour. If you have not found out

any more information than they have 'disappeared',

heads are going to roll!"

With a flick of her wand she rudely terminated the call,

causing the young lady at the other then to be ejected

from her end of the floo call.

Careless of that, she quickly strode from the room and

hurried up to her dressing room.

In her haste to dress and leave for the hospital she

never even thought of her grandson, sleeping in his

own room further along the wing from her own room.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At Hogwarts, Dumbledore was early for breakfast

because he'd forgotten it was a Saturday. His intention

was to arrive 'in his glory' and stride to his place at

the head table. He did so love to make an entrance.

However, with the late start for breakfast on

Saturdays, he arrived almost right at the start and was

one of the first to arrive. And, now that he was there,

he couldn't very well leave and come back later. That

would be far too obvious. So sit to eat, he did.

When the owls came in for the morning mail bomb,

what few owls there were of course, his copy of that

morning's Daily Prophet was almost dropped into his

half-finished bowl of bran cereal.

Wondering what sort of letter's the Prophet received

in anger at Potter's withdrawal from the Ball, he

almost missed the main story on the front page. He

only stopped to look at it because of the name in the

headline; 'Heartfelt Apology to Lord Potter'.

"What?" he muttered, quickly flipping back to the

main page and reading the article.

As he read he was at first in disbelief, then accepting

shock, then into anger before finally hitting rage.

"Blasted, buggering bastard!' he thought of Cuffe.

'The man's flat-out back-stabbed me!

'How... the hell... am I supposed to regain everything

I've lost, when everything I do is turned back on me!

Potter is just not this smart! This has to be agents

working behind him, goading him on!'

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Harry was just glad it was a later start that morning

than it was for the previous four. He'd have missed

breakfast with the Grangers if it wasn't. Getting down

at a little after 8.30am he only just beat Hermione

down.

"Sleep well?" ask Monica, as she almost always did

first thing in the morning.

"Yes, thank you," he replied, as Hermione walked in.

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Chapter 195

"Morning, princess," her father said while reading the

Prophet.

That's when Harry noticed his own copy of the Daily

Prophet was sitting, folded and ready, in his usual

place.

"Hedwig let you take her delivery?" asked Harry.

"Yes, she was quite polite about it," replied Monica.

"She always is when she deals with me."

"It's just you and, sometimes, me she has problems

with, Harry," said Hermione, just before she had to

smother a yawn.

Picking it up as Dobby deposited a large breakfast in

his place setting, he saw that the retraction was

printed right as the lead story. That surprised him. He

expected it buried somewhere back within the

'section' news on tips of 'new' household charms for

the harried home, the latest gnome repellent or doxie

infestation killer.

That it was the lead story meant Ted must've really

scared Cuffe witless.

As expected, the story was both an apology to Harry

for 'being led astray by a manipulative, lying old man

they once respected' (Dumbledore) and not 'properly

verifying the information provided by their sources

before going to print'.

However, it now left him in a bit of pickle. If he still

didn't go to the Ball then the information would have

been correct. However, he really had no desire, as

he'd written in his letter to Dumbledore, to be

anywhere near it.

When he voiced his concerns to Hermione, it was

Wendell who'd come up with the solution.

"Write a letter to the Daily Prophet and inform them

that, since they'd already pilloried you in their

supposedly great publication for not attending the

Ball when you didn't even know if the Ball was still

going to be on or not, you decided to go ahead and

make alternative plans," he suggested. "After all, if

you were already in hot water for something you'd not

yet done, why not be in hot water for actually doing

it?"

Monica then added, "Then thank them for making the

decision so much easier for you."

Harry gave a snort of amusement and said, "You two

are evil. But... I love it!"

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At the same time, but days later under time dilation,

Frank and Alice Longbottom were now awake and at

least reasonably conscious. And both were still

terribly weak. Both were lying in modern hospital beds

that were only far enough apart for one reasonably

slender person to walk between them. And both were

now reclining propped up in their beds with thick

pillows used to hold them up.

When a Healer in Gringotts healer robes walked in,

Frank immediately asked in a croaking voice, "Where

are we? What's going on?"

"Good morning," the Healer replied. Placing a small

potion vial on each of their bed tables next to their

hands, he replied, "That's a calming potion. If either of

you feel yourselves getting upset, you are to

immediately take it. We don't want you undoing the

repair work we've been putting you through to get

your health back up."

"Enough of the Healer-speak," said Frank. "Answer

the bloody questions!"

After first giving Frank the 'You're being a naughty

boy' look, the Healer replied, "You are currently in a

time dilation chamber inside Gringotts, London. You

have been in a curse-induced near comatose state for

a very long time. You feel as poorly as you do now

because of that.

"You were brought here under orders from Lord

Harrison Potter, using his authority for providing aid

to a member House of the Potter-Longbottom Alliance

for one House to provide aid to another,

approximately four to five hours ago in real time.

In case that surprises you, Lord Potter attained his

majority at the age of fourteen."

"Fourteen?" exclaimed Alice. "Lord Potter... You mean

little Harry?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied. "Lord Harrison Potter.

Because of inaction directed towards you being

healed by the Regent of the House of Longbottom,

Dowager Lady Augusta Longbottom, Lord Potter had

you quietly and secretly taken from Saint Mungo's and

brought here. Because of her inaction to date, she

was not informed.

"You had been in the Janus Thickey Ward of Saint

Mungo's for over thirteen years. In that time, other

than keeping you comfortable, nothing worthwhile

had been done to rectify your condition. Lord Potter,

once he attained his majority only a few months ago,

stepped in and quietly made arrangements. We had

you cured of the curse within minutes. And have been

bringing you slowly back to full health since then.

"Under time dilation it has been just over two days.

Outside, it has been a tad over four hours. Time

dilation is running at twelve to one. For every twelve

days in here, one day will pass outside. The set time

for the time dilation is three days, or seventy two

hours. In that time we will have attained thirty-six days

dilated.

"In that time we will be bringing you both back to full

health so that, when you leave here, you'll be able to

walk out on your feet and fit for what you will face.

Someone will be waiting for you when you exit at the

end of that time to see to your immediate needs.

"You are both to take the calming potion now, please,"

he said.

Both Longbottoms were visibly agitated. And both

realised they were, so took the potions.

Once the healer saw it was taking effect, he then

handed Frank the large thick envelope he had in his

hand.

"I'm led to believe this is a letter from Lord Potter,

where he explains to you what is going on and why he

has taken the action he has," said the healer. "I'll leave

you to go through it and be back in about thirty

minutes with your breakfasts."

As he watched the man walk back out of the small

room they were in, Frank broke the seal on the

envelope and slid the parchment within out.

Carefully, he began to read the top page.

"Thirteen years, Frank?" asked Alice. "Thirteen

Years?"

"I know, Alice," he replied. "I'm hoping this letter will

give us the answers to that. It's certainly thick

enough."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At Saint Mungo's, Augusta Longbottom was currently

in the Director of Hospital's office tearing verbal strips

off the man.

"I don't care for your excuses!" she screamed, red in

the face. "My son is supposed to be in your care! He

and his wife! It is your responsibility to keep him...

them... safe! I bloody well pay you enough to do so!"

The three-quarter frazzled man sat behind his desk

with his wand out and held below the bottom edge of

his desk - just in case. "Madam Longbottom," he tried,

"As I've assured you over and over again, we are

doing everything we can and could do to find out what

happened.

"The aurors are currently going over every inch of the

ward and surrounding areas to find out how it is your

son and daughter-in-bond could have disappeared

from a secure ward.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 196

"My staff and I are not forensic investigators. That is

why we immediately called in the DMLE. We believe

your son and daughter-in-bond were taken by person

or persons unknown―"

"Of course they bloody were, you stupid twit!" she

yelled. "What? You expect anyone to believe they

could have suddenly been cured and decided to sneak

out?

"Ward 42 is supposed to be the second most secure

ward you have here! Everyone knows only the DMLE

dangerous prisoner ward is more secure! And yet,

through your incompetence, you still allowed

someone to come in and kidnap my son!

"He's One of the Seven. That means, in case it hasn't

occurred to your pea-sized brain or it's just leaked out

your ears, whoever took him and his wife is looking

towards a very quick trip through the Veil! And so will

whoever aided them, in whatever capacity!"

"There is no need for threats or name calling, Madam

Longbottom," he firmly replied. "I have been patient

with you until now because I understand how

upsetting this is―"

"Upsetting? Upsetting?" she screamed. "I'm

absolutely bloody terrified for my son and his wife and

furious this even happened in the first place. Upset

passed by an hour ago!"

He quietly sighed. It was going to be a very, very long

day.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At Longbottom Hall, Neville was getting worried. He'd

come down early to breakfast and knew to wait to say

good morning to his grandmother before he headed

out to the greenhouses that morning. He knew that if

he didn't, he'd receive a bollocking from her.

However, when she didn't turn up, he asked the

'inside' house elf, Fluxy, to go check on her.

The little elf immediately replied, "Mistress 'Gusta not

be ins the Hall, Master Neville. Mistress 'Gusta be

out."

"She went out?" he asked, surprised. "When?"

"Mistress 'Gusta be leaving bouts halfway 'tween sun

up and brekky," replied the elf.

Frowning, Neville quickly calculated and realised

she'd been gone since just before he rose.

"Did she say where she was going?" he asked.

"No, Master Neville," replied the elf.

Wondering whether to wait or head out to the

greenhouses to occupy himself, that's when a darkfeathered Spotted Eagle Owl came swooping in. The

Merlin bedamned thing look vicious, but it acted

placid enough. It even held its leg out for him.

Neville was quick to free it of its load and even passed

it a slice of bacon and an owl treat to see if it preferred

one over the other. It turned its nose up at the owl

treat but willingly plucked the bacon out of his fingers

before flying out again.

As soon as he watched the owl fly out he turned his

attention to the letter. He recognised the handwriting

on it, immediately.

'Harry,' he thought. Muttering to himself he said, "I

wonder why he's now got another owl. Maybe its

Hermione's."

Quickly opening it he began to read. Breakfast was

done and his grandmother wasn't there, so she

couldn't tell him off for reading at the table.

Like Harry's last, it was a long one.

'Betrothal Agreement?' he thought. 'Someone with

white hair, eh? How not to be subtle, Harry-style... Ted

Tonks? Yeah, I remember him... 'Bout time you figured

it out, Harry... The Charter? I'll have to remember

where... What the bloody Hell?...

'Okay, if Harry's writing to me about not getting

worried, he must know I immediately would about

something... so, what's going on?'

Neville sat there and tried to think it through, as Harry

told him to do before they left Hogwarts.

'"If you're having trouble with that, write it down," he'd

said. "When you can see the problem with your eyes,

sometimes it helps you see the answer."'

"Fluxy!" he called.

"Yes, Master Neville?"

"Can you bring me parchment, quill and ink, please?"

"Yes, Master Neville," replied the elf.

A few moments later, the required writing material was

on the table next to where his plate was, which

disappeared at the same time.

Bringing it before him he began to write in short

sentences, laying out his thoughts.

When he finished he had a fair idea what to do.

"Fluxy," he called.

"Yes, Master Neville?"

"Do you know where my grandmother is right now?"

he asked.

"Yes, Master Neville," she replied. "Mistress 'Gusta be

at Saint Mungy's hospital. She be seeing hospital bigman in his office on top floor."

"Is she hurt or injured in any way?"

"No, Master Neville. She just beings really, really

angry."

'Right,' he thought. 'Harry was right. Now, why was

she angry with someone at the hospital?'

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 197

Rising he muttered, "Time to go read the Charter and

what it says about aiding a House. Maybe the answer

is there."

As he strode from the dining room and determinedly

headed for the Hall office, he thought, 'You're being

overly circumspect in telling me what's going on,

Harry, but providing me clues. That's not like you and I

need to know why.'

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At Gringotts, Frank continued to read the letter Harry

sent him as he ate his breakfast.

The covering letter was only that; a letter that just

hoped he was doing well and referred to the

'attached'. He was reading that 'attached' now.

He wasn't the only one. As he'd read each sheet he'd

passed it over to Alice, who then read it for herself.

They were only partway through the 'history lesson'

when they had to take a break. They were put through

an hour of in-bed physical therapy, then given a series

of questions to answer about their own backgrounds

to check their memories, more physical therapy and

finally they could get back to Harry's letter before

dinner.

"I can't believe this," said Alice. "Dumbledore put

Harry with the Dursleys. With the Dursleys, Frank!"

"I know," he replied, still reading. "I read it before you,

remember?"

"But, why would Dumbledore do such a thing?" she

plaintively asked.

"An even better question is, why would Mum allow

it?" he asked right back.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

"I can't keep this from them, Harry," said Hermione. "I

just can't."

After setting up the Christmas decorations on the

upper ground floor, that morning, the two were now

sitting outside on the play-set 'jungle gym' Hermione

once had a great deal of pleasure playing on when she

was a little girl. For many years now, though, it

remained unused - until today. The two were sitting on

side by side swings, just rocking back and forth.

"Hermione, you know there are things that my House

is going to be involved in you cannot tell anyone. And

by 'cannot' I mean just that; not that you're not

permitted," he explained. "This is a project of the

House of Potter and the House of Black working in an

unofficial alliance. If you tried to tell anyone you

would just choke on your own words. If you tried to

push through it, you risk losing your magic."

"Then I need you to tell them," she firmly said. "I

never thought I'd be required to keep something like

this from my own parents. I feel kind of evil, Harry. I

feel like a criminal."

Harry sighed and said, "Alright. We'll go tell them. But

they need to know, first, that there's a specific

document, the alliance Charter, that not only allows

me to do this, it pretty much requires me to do this."

Hermione's obvious relief told Harry he needed to do

this. However it also told him he could not involve her

in something like this again. At least, not until she'd

shown she'd be more comfortable with it.

When they returned indoors Hermione asked her

parents to come sit with them in the dinette, that they

had something to tell them. As soon as they sat, Harry

threw up a privacy charm so any listening aurors

would not hear what was said.

He then called Dobby, had him bring him his copy of

the alliance Charter and make teas for them all.

Once ready he indicated the book and told the

Granger parents what it was and that he couldn't open

it in their presence without the approval of all other

alliance charter members.

"Then why ask Dobby to bring it?" asked Wendell, a

little confused.

"So that you're aware of its existence," he replied.

"Now, this is what Hermione feels you need to

know..."

He told them about the section within the Charter that

requires all members of the alliance to provide

succour to all other alliance members in certain

circumstances. He explained how the other of the two

named Houses, Longbottom, had at that time a

warhorse matriarch of a Regent because the rightful

Lord and Lady of the House were incapacitated.

He then went on to explain how it was his duty and

responsibility, as per the Charter, to step in and act in

the best interests of the House of Longbottom,

whether the Regent of the House wanted it or not.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 198

"My responsibility is to the House by way of its Lord,"

he explained. "Not its Regent. Plus, after a long time

considering the issue - years - I've come to firmly

believe that the Regent, the current Lord's mother, has

been deliberately not trying to find ways to cure her

son and daughter-in-bond; but, especially, her son.

"I believe she quite likes the idea of being the Head of

one of the Seven and doesn't want to let go. It's a big

step up from her House of birth, the Rosiers - who are

only an Ancient House."

"So you believe she's deliberately keeping the Lord of

the House in hospital and untreated so she can

remain in charge?" asked Monica.

"Exactly."

"Isn't there anything you can do?" asked Wendell.

"There is and I've done it," he replied.

That's when he explained exactly what had happened

the previous night. He also explained how the Healers

sent from Gringotts had the Lord and Lady awake, but

barely, within moments. And how, once they knew

they could be healed, they were snuck out of the

Hospital and into Gringotts's own in secrecy.

"You kidnapped them," frowned Wendell.

"No," he firmly replied. "As I said earlier, the Charter

not only tells me I should act, it directs me to actually

act. If I did not also firmly believe the Regent would

not try to block me, I would have just had the healers

heal them in situ and left things alone. But, I'm also

responsible for the safety of the House, which is why

they were removed from that location to a secure

treatment centre."

Wendell sat back, thought a moment and asked, "And

this was completely legal?"

"Absolutely," he replied. "However, Madam

Longbottom is going to go spare when she discovers

it was me who did it."

"How will she know?" asked Monica.

"Because, I'm also going to make sure she knows it

was me," he replied. "Well, it would be better to state

I'm going to make sure her grandson, my friend,

knows it was me and that his parents are safe."

"That's a big risk," said Wendell. "She might try to kill

you."

"No, but she will try everything else," he disagreed.

"Having me arrested, having me censured by the

Wizengamot, reporting to the Daily Prophet I've

kidnapped her son and daughter-in-bond, that sort of

thing. She will try everything in her power to force me

to hand them back over to her.

"The problem for her, though, is it won't work. Besides

me being legally in the right in this, where they are

now is under a lock-down that will not release until the

early hours of Tuesday morning. They're under time

dilation. Which means, after seventy-two hours of

outside time - three days - thirty six days are going to

pass inside the chamber. When they come out they're

going to be healthy, hearty and hale.

"Then, if I'm right and I believe I am, Augusta Reeves

Longbottom née Rosier is going to have to face the

wrath of her Lord. She will be brought to task for all

the things she has done in the name of the House of

Longbottom that weren't in the best interests of the

House of Longbottom, after all."

"Does this endanger my daughter?" he asked.

"No, not at all," he easily replied. "No pureblood,

which Augusta Longbottom is, would ever think of

interfering in a Betrothal. Even during the height of

war, that was a definite no-go area for all."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After the previous day's 'up', today was a 'down' day

for Ron Weasley. Yesterday's Daily Prophet had Harry

Bloody Potter being torn apart by the newspaper.

Today, they were all on their knees begging his

forgiveness and blaming some old white haired git for

telling them lies.

"Hey, Mum?" he asked. "In the Prophet, where it says

some manipulative old white haired git told them lies

about Potter, who do you think they were talking

about?"

"They were talking about Albus Dumbledore, Ron,"

she replied, not even looking up where she was

cooking extra bacon. "I would have thought that

would be obvious."

"And it's Lord Potter, Ron," said Arthur. "The young

man has attained his Lordship now. You have no right

to just call him 'Potter'."

As Ron sat there moping, the hand associated with

his name on the clock clicked back to 'In Danger'. This

time with a loud 'Dong!' sound. The hand had been

charmed so the adult Weasleys would know if it

moved to point to the wrong spot on the clock.

His mother spun on the spot and screeched,

"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY!"

Ronald, half-terrified, stared back in fear and his clock

hand immediately moved back to 'At Home' with a

'Ding!'

"Ron," sighed his father. "If you don't get that

jealousy, resulting anger and foolish determination to

open your mouth and say what you shouldn't under

control by Christmas, you're going to your Aunt

Muriel's the very next day. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Dad," he mumbled.

"Louder, son!"

"Yes, Dad," he quickly and more clearly stated.

"If paddling your behind until it is redder than your

hair won't fix it, maybe your Aunt Muriel will be able

to."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After figuring out his grandmother was upset about

something relating to his parents, Neville had been

hanging either about or in the welcoming hall of the

Hall, waiting for her to get home.

When she finally arrived back, after having been away

for almost two hours, Neville was just walking back

into the hall.

Standing just inside the doorway, he waited for her to

clear herself of soot before he quietly said,

"Grandmother."

Turning on him, Neville could see she was still angry

and, yes, even a little frightened. That expression

suddenly disappeared. "Neville," she said. "Good

morning."

'Wow; those Occlumency barriers went up fast,' he

thought.

"How were things at... ummm... well, how about that?"

he quietly said. "I don't know, because you never

actually told anyone where you were going. Actually,

you never told anyone you were going anywhere at

all."

Snapping her head to stare at him, she snapped,

"Don't take that tone with me, young man."

"You left here without telling anyone, especially me,

you were even going out," said Neville. "You just

disappeared. Not a word, not a note, not even giving

the house elves a clue as to your destination, why

you'd be there or when you were likely to return.

"I'm not the one who needs to apologise for their tone,

grandmother. I was moments away from contacting

the DMLE and reporting you a missing person. And I'd

have been right to do so."

Augusta tried to glare her grandson down, but failed.

Since he'd acquired his own wand and found out it

was her intransigence about him using his father's

wand was almost completely the reason behind his

poor showing at school for the first three years, he

had started showing a lot more backbone. She knew

he knew she failed him miserably in that.

She sighed and more quietly said, "You're right,

Neville. I should have at least let Fluxy know to let you

know where I was going, so you wouldn't worry when

you rose."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 199

He gave a nod and walked further into the room.

"You're worried and angry about something, what's

going on?" he asked.

"Come into the office, Neville," she said. "I have

news." And strode past him, heading for said office.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At the Grangers, Wendell walked into the dinette,

where the two teens were yet again, and said, "Come

on; we're going out for the day."

"Where?" Hermione immediately asked.

"It's a surprise," he said. "Dress warm, though. Jeans,

jumpers and jackets; that sort of thing. I need to go let

the aurors know."

As Wendell walked back out the two quickly packed

up what they were working on and set it aside, making

sure to cap the ink bottle so as not to let it dry out.

Once the dinette was tidied, the two quickly made

their way upstairs to change - Hermione was, at that

time, wearing a skirt and thick stockings.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

An hour later, Neville was out in his greenhouses.

Working with the plants had also allowed him to focus

and think. And that's what he now needed to do.

As he began re-potting a series of seedlings he was

cultivating, he was thinking. 'Is this what you were

trying to hint at, Harry?' he thought. 'Did you have

something to do with the disappearance of my

parents?'

The only thing his grandmother could tell him was

that they were both alive and, apparently, well. Before

coming home she had gone to Gringotts and

confirmed their stones were still glowing. So, whoever

took them, was caring for them.

'That hint to read the section in the Charter about

providing aid to the other alliance houses certainly

pointed to it. But, to what end? Did Harry know how to

cure them and didn't want his grandmother to

interfere? Did he fear for their lives if he just told Saint

Mungo's how to do it? Maybe he did it because he

didn't believe Saint Mungo's would believe he knew

how to do it.'

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The surprise for Harry and Hermione was a day at an

amusement park in the southern London outer

'suburbs'.

It hadn't taken Wendell and Monica long to work out

Harry had never been to one. And, even though the

weather was chilly, the park had remained open an

extra couple of weeks longer than anticipated due to

the unseasonably warm weather.

This was the last weekend it would be open before

closing until March, so the Granger parents took the

opportunity while it was there.

Taking both cars due to the aurors, Harry was in a car

with Monica and two of the aurors on their detail,

today. Hermione was in the other car with her father

and the third auror.

It wasn't until they were on the road and off that Harry

looked about and realised he was the lone male in a

care with three females. And he had a right to be

concerned.

Almost as soon as they hit the road, not even

reaching the end of the street on which the Grangers

lived, Monica asked, "So, Harry; what else did you and

Hermione do besides 'write letters and go through

Potter family documents' all week?"

"Nothing improper, if that's what you're hinting at," he

immediately and comfortably returned. "No hands

wandered where they shouldn't have, or anything like

that.

"I know it might sound all fuddy-duddy, but the both of

us just don't... I mean, we're not looking for an excuse

to find a broom cupboard or the equivalent. The odd

kiss, holding hands occasionally, that's what we're

comfortable with."

"That wasn't what I was getting at, Harry," she wryly

returned. "But, thank you for saying so."

In a lighter voice she said, "I was simply asking to

ensure the two of you did not just do the equivalent of

office work for the entire week. You're on break. You

should be making the most of it."

"Sorry," he sheepishly returned. "I guess we're both

aware that, at this moment, we should be at Hogwarts,

attending classes and studying. So, yes, we have

been spending a lot of time doing office work, as you

put it. But, we've also taken a couple of walks outside,

weather permitting."

"You should be making use of the break," she said.

"Besides going to the shops to do a grocery run, have

you been far out of the house?"

"No," he sighed. "The idea of having... the aurors with

us - and neither of us having much in the way of close

friends, besides ourselves - there's really been no

desire to go and visit anyone."

"Well, Wendell and I would like it if you found

somewhere occasionally to go while we're at work.

Are you sure you can't contact some of your school

friends and pay them a visit?"

Harry thought about it for a while before he said, "I

really should pay a visit to some of the Heirs of the

alliance. There's Susan Bones, Daphne Greengrass,

Tracey Davis, Hannah Abbott and Neville Longbottom

on that list. Plus we should, maybe, visit the

Weasleys; but that is dependant on how Ron's going

to behave himself while we're there.

"We also need to let them all know that Hermione and

I are now betrothed. I was just holding off because

of... what's going on leading up to the Wizengamot

meeting on Tuesday morning."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The day at the amusement park was, as far as Harry

was concerned, brilliant!

While he was not afraid of heights due to his playing

Quidditch, the idea of being flung about in a rollercoaster where he had absolutely no control of the

movement was a little thrilling - and deafening.

Hermione had one hell of a set of lungs on her and

could reach quite the high note when she screamed.

He much preferred the more leisurely rides, where

they could cuddle against one another. Of course,

when one of the aurors smirked at them while they

were doing it, they used the excuse they only did so

because it was cold. It was also clear the auror didn't

believe that for one moment.

The 'fast food', though, he felt he could have done

without. It felt like he was eating almost ninety percent

fat and oil. It did not sit well in his stomach and he

was glad to have found somewhere that sold fresh

fruit. That apple had done a lot to settle his stomach

again.

While the day had turned out overcast, it did not rain.

So they did not have to experience that bane of the

amusement park day. And finally decided to head back

to Wimbledon when the light was starting to get a little

too dim.

As they arrived home too late for Harry to cook,

Dobby cooked dinner that day.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The two Longbottoms had been under time dilation

now for seven days of dilated time. They were both up

and walking around and had been allowed to explore

the small set of rooms that made up the chamber.

However, they were both still far too weak to remain

out of bed, or at least sitting, for too long. Both also

had modern recliner chairs, so they could feel like

they were out of bed when they needed to rest.

Their hospital beds had since been transfigured into a

single standard queen-sized double but, at nearly hip

height, was still a bit high for their liking. However, at

least it meant they were sleeping together again. For

the first time in thirteen years they could lie together

and cuddle.

While they had been taking their potions and doing

their exercises they were now much more focussed

on regaining their health than they might have

otherwise been. Since reading Harry's letter the two,

once both got their anger under control, had almost

both living in a state of perpetual simmering rage ever

since - and not aimed at Harry, either.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 200

No. There were many targets of their rage: Severus

Snape, for his treatment of their son in Hogwarts;

Albus Dumbledore, for what he put everyone through;

Augusta, for her treatment of their son almost since

the day she'd become his guardian; Algernon 'Uncle

Algie' Rosier, for trying to kill their son twice; Sirius

Black, somewhat, for doing something so damned

stupid as to get himself arrested and tossed into

Azkaban; Minerva McGonagall, for proving to be a

failure as Head of House and protecting their son from

Snape; the other alliance members, for failing to

uphold the Charter; Remus Lupin, for not being there

for Harry when he should have been; and the

Wizengamot, in general, for failing to do its job.

They both knew what an incredible gift they'd been

given by the young Potter Lord, Harry, and the

incredible cost this time dilation chamber must be

costing him and Black. They knew enough to know

what costs were likely to be involved.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After dinner, knowing the Longbottoms would now be

up and about and wanting news, Harry and Hermione

wrote them a letter.

~ # ~

Lord Franklin and Lady Alice Longbottom,

By now you should be up and somewhat about. At the

rate of approximately two hours 'outside' for every

day 'inside', we estimate just over a week has gone by

for the two of you. For us, it's been barely fourteen

hours. It's now early evening on the same day I, Harry,

organised for you to be taken from Saint Mungo's.

So far, word has not gone public that you've

disappeared from the hospital. However, I've no doubt

both Augusta and Neville would know by now. My

heart aches that he will currently be in a state of high

anxiety over your disappearance. And I'm truly sorry

he has to go through that for the next couple of days.

I also don't know if he'll ever forgive me for doing this,

but I know him getting his parents back hale and

healthy makes it all worth it for me, for us. If, at the

end of this, you believe the alliance should be

terminated or the Charter rewritten, the House of

Potter understands and will support you.

Though I know by now you've read the rather large

'report' I sent you as background of what's been going

on in the wizarding world since you've been otherwise

indisposed, I think this time I'll tell you more about

your son from the point of view of a friend who shared

a Gryffindor boys' dorm with him for the past three

plus years. And Hermione will be adding points, too.

The first time I met your son was when this young

nearly twelve year old muggleborn girl flung open the

door of my compartment on the Hogwarts Express on

1st September, 1991. She was helping another 'little

firstie' look for his missing pet toad, Trevor.

It was actually he who introduced me to Hermione, the

girl, because she had forgotten to introduce herself.

(Ouch! She just smacked me on the arm!) So, in a way,

Heir Longbottom introduced Heir Potter to his later-to-

be betrothed.

Once we got to the castle and while we were in the

antechamber waiting to be taken into the Great Hall

for the Sorting by McGonagall, as an aside Neville

said to me he felt extremely lucky he even got invited

to attend the school. Even back then it was very clear

the boy grew up believing he was little better than a

squib; his own House and relatives had been

demoralising the boy that much. He even said he'd be

very happy to even be chosen to be a 'Puff. And

believed he had no chance to be a Gryffindor.

Imagine his surprise when, very soon after the Hat

was placed on his head, the Hat called out,

"Gryffindor!" He was so surprised and pleased he

immediately dashed to the Gryffindor table before

McGonagall had a chance to pluck the Hat off his head

first.

Thinking back to that night, I like to think I had a hand

in Neville ending up in the House of the Lions

because, back in that antechamber when he said he

didn't feel he was brave enough to go into Gryffindor, I

said something along the lines of, "You're eleven,

Neville. Just how brave do you think however or

whoever does the sorting thinks you need to be?" I

know it made him think about that.

After I convinced the Hat to put me in Gryffindor, too,

we became dorm-mates. We even sleep in beds next

to each other.

One thing to know about Neville is that he, like me, is

a 'neat freak'. His and my combined area in the dorm

is a clean oasis in a sea of teenage boy mess. It's

another thing we have in common.

By the end of the first week it became very apparent

Neville is a prodigy when it comes to Herbology. To

Hermione's unearned sometime chagrin it is one of

the few subjects she is consistently beaten for top

marks. Neville absolutely whoops her bum in it!

(Ouch! I just got unfairly whacked on the arm again.)

She claims their unofficial competition in the subject

helps them both.

I know that Professor Sprout has had her eye on

directing Neville towards a Mastery in Herbology. And

I've not interfered with that, because I know it's

Neville's dream, too. The joy on his face when he's

working 'up to the elbows' in manure, re-potting or

whatever, is heart-warming. Fair warning: I would be

quite upset with you both if you were thinking about

trying to steer him away from the subject.

However, while Neville is a prodigy at Herbology,

when it comes to Potions he's his own worst enemy. I

know that sounds odd, in that both Herbology and

Potions should be quite integrally linked, but it's true.

And the reason is obvious to anyone who saw the two

together in the same classroom for more than about

five seconds - Severus Snape.

Neville is going to need to start learning about Potions

right from the beginning. Severus Snape's constant

belittling and harassment of him has led Neville to be

terrified of the subject. He has often been hurt by

failing and or exploding potions. So he needs to be

gotten over that before the real teaching of him of the

subject of Potions can begin.

If Snape had not been such a bastard, or McGonagall

had done her job of protecting her 'cubs', the situation

would not have evolved into the mess it currently is. It

is for that reason I recommend Neville receive

personal tutoring in the subject. Actually, I think we

should both have personal tutoring in the subject.

Neville was not the only target of Snape's

vindictiveness.

[...]

Hermione and I send you our love and support. Please

use this time to get your health, strength and magical

abilities back up. When you come out, there's a lot of

work that'll be waiting for you both. The first of which,

of course, is to hug your son on Tuesday morning.

Lord Harrison and Lady Presumptive Hermione

~ # ~

When both agreed the letter was done, Harry called to

Dobby to deliver it to the time chamber via the

goblins.

"They must be going spare!" sighed Hermione.

"I know," replied Harry. "It doesn't change the fact,

though, that this is necessary."

"That letter is going to both relieve them of some of

their worry, and anger them quite a bit," she said.

"I know," he replied. "However, in their robes, I think

I'd rather know than not."

"Agreed," she sighed.

After checking the clock she declared, "It's late. Time

for bed."

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